Process-oriented knowledge management : a conceptual analysis of the relationship between knowledge management and business process management

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2021.ENGLISH SUMMARY : Business process orientation in knowledge management is an important topic for organizations today. The trend in knowledge management is to move towards process and human focused approaches. The thesis investigates the topic of process-oriented knowledge management and its relationship to business process management. Specifically whether the convergence between the two fields might contribute to effective knowledge management in organizations. A literature review was conducted to assess, critique, and synthesize the field of process-oriented knowledge management. This enabled the identification of various perspectives on the topic and a description of the broad topic of process-oriented knowledge management. In an investigation of the relationship between the established field of business process management and knowledge management, it is argued that business processes provide structure and context for knowledge activities embedded in organizational routines. Process-oriented knowledge management is a strategy for managing knowledge in organizations, which brings together knowledge and business processes. It involves embedding knowledge into business processes. The focus for process-oriented knowledge management is knowledge intensive business processes which are complex, highly unstructured and requires the application of tacit knowledge. This thesis offers an integrated view of literature pertaining to process-oriented knowledge management and its relationship to business process management. Central to this integration is the notion of knowledge intensive business processes. The thesis argues that managing knowledge from a process perspective is a more effective way to manage organizational knowledge assets. The process-oriented knowledge management strategy enables organizations to embed knowledge in their day-to-day processes, and most importantly the ability to apply knowledge processes in the context of business processes.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Besigheidsprosesoriëntasie is 'n belangrike kennisbestuursonderwerp vir organisasies vandag. Die tendens in kennisbestuur is 'n beweging na proses- en mensgerigte benaderings. Die tesis ondersoek proses-georiënteerde kennisbestuur en die verband met besigheidsprosesbestuur. Spesifiek word gevra of die konvergensie tussen die twee velde kan bydra tot effektiewe kennisbestuur in organisasies. 'n Aanvanklike literatuuroorsig assesseer, kritiseer en sintetiseer die veld van proses-georiënteerde kennisbestuur. Die oorsig het dit moontlik gemaak om verskeie perspektiewe op die onderwerp na vore te bring en om die breë onderwerp van prosesgeoriënteerde kennisbestuur en die verwante kwessies te beskryf. In 'n ondersoek na die verband tussen die gevestigde veld van besigheidsprosesbestuur en kennisbestuur, word geargumenteer dat besigheidsprosesse struktuur en konteks verskaf vir kennisaktiwiteite ingebed in organisatoriese roetines. Proses-georiënteerde kennisbestuur is 'n strategie vir die bestuur van kennis in organisasies, wat kennis en besigheidsprosesse bymekaar bring. Dit behels die inbedding van kennis in besigheidsprosesse. Die fokus vir proses-georiënteerde kennisbestuur is op kennisintensiewe besigheidsprosesse wat kompleks en hoogs ongestruktureerd is, en die toepassing van implisiete kennis vereis. Die tesis bied 'n geïntegreerde siening van literatuur met betrekking tot proses-georiënteerde kennisbestuur en die verband daarvan met besigheidsprosesbestuur. Sentraal tot hierdie integrasie is die idee van kennisintensiewe besigheidsprosesse. Die tesis voer aan dat die bestuur van kennis vanuit 'n prosesperspektief 'n meer effektiewe manier is om organisatoriese kennisbates te bestuur. Die proses-georiënteerde kennisbestuurstrategie stel organisasies in staat om kennis in hul dag-tot-dag prosesse in te sluit, en bowenal die vermoë om kennisprosesse in die konteks van besigheidsprosesse toe te pas.Master