Companies publish knowledge management white papers, or km white papers, in order to share knowledge. White papers, by definition, are reports published by companies and individuals sharing information on how particular problems are solved. A km white paper is specific to an organization or company which will define and share knowledge and how it was learned.

Knowledge management has only been an established discipline since the mid-1990's. Large companies dedicate groups to finding, identifying, and sharing employee knowledge and experience to enhance collaboration between employees and organizations within the company. A white paper on knowledge management can focus on many areas including:

1. developing collaborative practices;

2. transferring experience from lessons learned on projects; and

3. innovative techniques developed while researching or working on a specific task or project.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use a membership to have access to current white papers on knowledge management

The most efficient way to find white papers on knowledge management is to sign up with a knowledge management library which strives to keep information fresh. Many km libraries encourage information sharing, which is the underlying principle of the km philosophy.

I recommend: Bitpipe offers a suite of syndicated white papers, including km white papers, for a free membership. Use the research library at Find White Papers to track down the paper on knowledge management that best meets your needs.

Stay 'in-the-know' with knowledge management research companies

Start your km research by utilizing knowledge management expertise in online repositories. Many companies share their knowledge management information databases for free, while others require a paid subscription.

I recommend: Knowledge Management Research and Practice publishes final versions of white papers with free access to abstracts. You'll need subscription or license for full access to any article. The Knowledge Management Resource Center offers unrestricted access to white papers, articles and other km publications for your research.

Sort through specialized papers on knowledge management

Many individuals, organizations and companies write and publish white papers on km. Some white papers are generalized and adaptable to many applications, while some are quite narrow and focused on particular areas that may not apply to your current needs. However, it is good to know that niche papers about knowledge management exist so you can track them down when you need to.

I recommend: Step Two Designs takes an independent stance and approaches organizational knowledge management and other fields with a holistic attitude to help solve real-world challenges. Executive Information Systems focuses on The New Knowledge Management and gives access to new competencies and accomplishments in the knowledge management field.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  As you mine for knowledge management research reports, you may want to focus on an organization or company similar to yours. There's no need to reinvent a report if one already exists. Look to your competitors and see if there area any available knowledge management white papers.