Prelims

Professor (Full) Jon-Arild Johannessen Ph.D. (Kristiania University College, Norway) (Nord University, Norway)

Knowledge Management Philosophy: Communication as a Strategic Asset in Knowledge Management

ISBN: 978-1-83909-637-2, eISBN: 978-1-83909-634-1

Publication date: 8 January 2020

pdf (1007 KB) ePub (292 KB)

Citation

Johannessen, J.-A. (2020), "Prelims", Knowledge Management Philosophy: Communication as a Strategic Asset in Knowledge Management, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. i-xi. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83909-634-120191001

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Half Title

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHY

Title Page

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHY: COMMUNICATION AS A STRATEGIC ASSET IN KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

JON-ARILD JOHANNESSEN, PH.D., PROFESSOR (FULL)

Kristiania University College, Norway and Nord University, Norway

United Kingdom – North America – Japan – India – Malaysia – China

Copyright

Emerald Publishing Limited

Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley BD16 1WA, UK

First edition 2020

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ISBN: 978-1-83909-637-2 (Print)

ISBN: 978-1-83909-634-1 (Online)

ISBN: 978-1-83909-636-5 (Epub)

Preface		ix
PART I: PHILOSOPHY FOR KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
1.	A Systemic Perspective on Knowledge Management	3
	Introduction	3
	Feed-pre	5
	Pre-understanding	7
	The Described System	9
	Reflections about Philosophy of Science for Knowledge Management	12
	Main Conclusion	14
	References	16
2.	Developing Aspects of Qualitative Criteria in Philosophy of Science for Knowledge Management	19
	Introduction	19
	Criterion 1: Be Explicit about Your Premises, Suppositions, Prerequisites and Motives	21
	Description	22
	Analysis and Discussion	24
	Sub-conclusion	30
	Criterion 2: Be Explicit about the Moral and Ethical Consequences of Decisions	31
	Description	31
	Analysis and Discussion	33
	Rationality and Ethics	33
	Science Is a Morals/Ethics Project	36
	Robot Ethics	37
	Formal Logic and Ethics	39
	Sub-Conclusion	42
	Main Conclusion	42
	References	45
PART II: The Philosophy of Knowledge Management Aimed at Theory
3.	In Search of Social Laws for Knowledge Management	53
	Introduction	53
	Description: Social Mechanisms and Social Laws	56
	Analysis and Discussion	58
	Aspects of Social Laws behind the Knowledge Management Variable: The Information System	59
	The Law of Requisite Variety	59
	The Self-organising Principle	60
	The Principle of Information Redundancy	61
	The Model Principle	63
	Aspects of Social Laws Behind the Knowledge Management Variable: Communication System	64
	The Law of Complementarity	65
	The Darkness Principle	66
	The Law of Communication	69
	Aspects of Social Laws in Relation to the Knowledge Management Variable: Knowledge Management Training for All Employees in the Organisation	73
	The Systemic Principle	73
	The Redundancy of Potential Command Principle	76
	Aspects of Social Laws in Relation to the Knowledge Management Variable: Considerations Concerning Moral/Ethical and Ecological Consequences	80
	The Consistency Principle	81
	Conclusion	82
	References	84
4.	Concepts	91
	Action	91
	Butterfly Effects	93
	Calibration	93
	Causal Analysis	94
	Circular Causality	94
	Communicative Consciousness	95
	Complementary Relationship	97
	Epistemology	98
	Feed-Pre	99
	Information	101
	Intention Structure	102
	Message	104
	Non-Knowledge	105
	Pre-Comprehension	105
	Pre-Structures	105
	Sensitising Concepts	106
	Spontaneous Intuition	109
	Symmetrical Relationship	116
	‘The Context of Solution’	116
	The Epistemological Hierarchy	117
	The Naturalist Erroneous Inference	117
	The Objectivist Position	117
	The Ontological Questioning Process	118
	The Paradox of Objectivity	118
	The Theory of Science	119
	Zappfe’s Paradox	120
	References	121
Appendix 1	Epistemological Supposition for Knowledge Management and Systemic Thinking	127
Appendix 2	Distinctions	139
Index		143

Preface

The book is divided in two parts. Part I deals with the philosophy of science for Knowledge Management. In Part I, there are two chapters. Both chapters conceptualise at an abstract level the philosophy for Knowledge Management.

Part II is named the philosophy for Knowledge Management aimed at theory development

Part I Philosophy for Knowledge Management

The problem we investigate in Chapter 1 is that we lack a language for a systemic philosophy for Knowledge Management. Without a language communication is impossible. The question asked in Chapter 1 is: what constitutes a philosophy for Knowledge Management? The purpose is to elaborate on a philosophy for Knowledge Management based on systemic thinking.

The finding in Chapter 1 is a postulate system for the philosophy for Knowledge Management, that is, a system of premises from which all the propositions in a theory follow.

The problem discussed in Chapter 2 is quality criteria for a philosophy for Knowledge Management? The question discussed is: what quality criteria are relevant in the philosophy for Knowledge Management? The purpose of the chapter is to develop quality criteria for the philosophy for Knowledge Management. The contribution in Chapter 2 is two frameworks that show an understanding of quality criteria for the philosophy for Knowledge Management.

Part II The Philosophy for Knowledge Management Aimed at Theory Development

The problem discussed in Chapter 3 is that social laws are criticised and are not used in the social sciences, but what with regularities becoming stable patterns?

The question asked is: how can social laws be used to explain Knowledge Management behaviour?

The purpose of Chapter 4 is to apply system-theoretical meta-design principles in the study of Knowledge Management processes and to relate this to social laws. The meta-design principles used here are linked to four selected Knowledge Management variables. These are:

Information system.
Communication system.
Knowledge Management training for all employees in the organisation.
Considerations concerning moral/ethical and ecological consequences.

The Contribution in Chapter 4 is a system of 10 Knowledge Management propositions based on the 10 ‘social laws’ that we have discussed and analysed in this chapter. These Knowledge Management propositions constitute a mini-theory of Knowledge Management, because in systemic thinking, theory is defined as a system of propositions. The novel aspect of this contribution lies both in the meta-design principle being presented, and our application of the 10 principles (social laws) set in a Knowledge Management context.

The book is based on a systemic perspective.

Book Chapters

Prelims

Part I. Philosophy for Knowledge Management

1. A Systemic Perspective on Knowledge Management

2. Developing Aspects of Qualitative Criteria in Philosophy of Science for Knowledge Management

Part II. The Philosophy of Knowledge Management Aimed at Theory

3. In Search of Social Laws for Knowledge Management

4. Concepts

Appendix 1. Epistemological Supposition for Knowledge Management and Systemic Thinking

Appendix 2. Distinctions

Index