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The Knowledge Management Cycle 47

Learn from personal experience
Formal education and training
Intelligence sources
Build knowledge
Media, books, peers

In people
Hold knowledge
In tangible forms (e.g., books)

KM systems (intranet, dbase)
Pool knowledge
Groups of people brainstorm

In work context
Use knowledge
Embedded in work processes

Figure 2.9
Wiig KM Cycle

Although the steps are shown as independent and sequential, this is a simplifi cation
since some of the functions and activities may be performed in parallel. It is also pos-
sible to cycle back to repeat functions and activities performed earlier, using with a
different emphasis and/or level of detail. The cycle addresses a broad range of learning
from all types of sources: personal experience, formal education or training, peers, and
intelligence from all sources. We can then hold knowledge either within our heads or
in tangible form such as books or databases. Knowledge can then be pooled and used
in a variety of different ways depending on the context and the purpose.
The cycle focuses on identifying and relating the functions and activities that we
engage in to make products and services as knowledge workers.
Building knowledge refers to a wide range of activities ranging from market research,
focus groups, surveys, competitive intelligence, and data mining applications. Building
knowledge consists of fi ve major activities:
1. Obtain knowledge
2. Analyze knowledge
3. Reconstruct/synthesize knowledge
4. Codify and model knowledge
5. Organize knowledge