Successes and Failures of Knowledge Management

Chapter 7

Knowledge loss and retention: the paradoxical role of IT

N. Levallet^*

Y.E. Chan^***    Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA^**    Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada

Abstract

Knowledge is a critical resource for organizations that compete in unpredictable and fast-changing environments. Effective management of knowledge resources using both information systems (IS) and non-IS-based tools enhances innovation and overall organizational performance. As an important component of knowledge management, knowledge retention initiatives focus on ensuring that created knowledge is effectively retained by an organization and can be reused by organizational members. Past research has mostly equated increased retained knowledge to lower knowledge loss. ...