Theoretical approaches to the management of organizational knowledge abound. Yet there are few, if any, guidelines as to how to implement a systematic approach to the management of organizational knowledge assets, especially regarding the role of Knowledge Networks in the management of organizational knowledge. We believe Knowledge Networks to be central to the development and sustenance of corporate success. Therefore, a practical manual for the systematic management and measurement of knowledge networks has been put together in close collaboration with our corporate partners.

We define a Knowledge Network as a number of people, resources, and the relationship among them, which are assembled to accumulate and use knowledge, primarily through knowledge creation and transfer processes, for the ultimate purpose of creating value. This book contains the approach of knowledge networking illustrated in case studies with companies like Unilever, Hewlett Packard, DaimlerChrysler and Lotus.

This book provides the essence of the work of the research centre KnowledgeSource, which specializes in research in the knowledge management field, at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland. The KnowledgeSource builds on almost a decade of research on knowledge-based business, and constitutes a collaborative Centre of Excellence drawing on resources from Information Science and Strategic Management at the Institute of Information Management and the Institute of Management.

About the Author

ANDREA BACK is Full Professor at the University of St. Gallen and also Director of the Institute of Information Management. She is Head and Founder of the two research groups Learning Center HSG and KnowledgeSource (the latter together with Professor von Krogh). These competence centres are specific in how they practice applied research in close cooperation and collaboration within a consortium of interested companies. Dr. Back is well known for her research in E-Learning, knowledge networking and workplace E-Collaboration.

GEORG VON KROGH has been a professor of management at the University of St. Gallen since 1994 and is also Director of its Institute of Management. Dr. von Krogh has published on such topics as the knowledge and resource based views of the firm, knowledge creation and technological innovation, as well as competitive strategy and organizational growth. He is currently exploring models of technological innovation and their effectiveness, in particular the characteristics of and conditions for open source software development.

ANDREAS SEUFERT has been Assistant Professor from 1997-2000 and Co-Founder of the Research Center KnowledgeSource at the University of St. Gallen. In 2001 he joined Accenture as Strategy Consultant. Since 2003 he is Professor of Management and IT at the University of Applied Sciences Ludwigshafen. Dr. Seufert has published on topics such as knowledge strategy and knowledge architecture as well as information and communication technology to support knowledge management and business intelligence. His current focus is on performance improvement through knowledge management.

ELLEN ENKEL has been Project Leader of the research center KnowledgeSource since December 2000. The aim of KnowledgeSource, and especially the Competence Center Knowledge Networks for Growth is to develop instruments for knowledge management in an action research approach. Ellen Enkel is especially involved in developing a concept and the methodology for implementing and maintaining effective Knowledge Networks (MERLIN method) with a focus on fostering innovation through knowledge sharing. Her latest research focus lays on supporting the innovation process through innovation networks.