The Origin of Knowledge Management

Knowledge Management (KM) has evolved. This chapter will explore how the KM began and how it developed over time. Key philosophies discussed in the chapter include tacit and explicit knowledge, KM life cycles, and knowledge processes. Briefly, the chapter covers ancient knowledge systems, early libraries and guilds, and the Indian Knowledge System (IKS). Also discussed are the changes that came with the industrial age, the digital era, and today’s AI-driven world. It then shows how these ideas relate to early organisational methods for capturing, sharing, and using information. The chapter details essential historical events which shaped contemporary KM theory by showing how technology development, worldwide expansion and learning-based organisations emerged. The narrative demonstrates KM functions as a strategic tool for innovation, collaboration and performance enhancement through its analysis of information awareness and organisational response and decision-making connections. It explains this by highlighting how information awareness influences organisational responses and decision-making. The discussion concludes by presenting practical models and case examples which demonstrate how to build effective KM systems while preparing organisations for upcoming knowledge challenges and opportunities.