Managing Knowledge: Does Information Technology Help?

In this session, we will first explore some fundamental questions related to knowledge, including: What is knowledge? How does it relate to data, information, truth, and beliefs? Is knowledge an object? What are different types of knowledge? What does the value of knowledge depend on? The second part of this session will focus on how information systems and information technologies influence knowledge management, including creation, sharing, and utilization of knowledge. We will also discuss the potential pitfalls of using information systems and technologies to create, share, and use knowledge. We will examine these issues in the context of traditional information systems as well as emerging information technologies such as wikis and blogs, and emerging phenomena such as crowd sourcing or collective intelligence. In both parts of the session, we will draw upon a few simple examples as well as lessons from companies managing knowledge