Knowledge Management Glossary
- Michelle M
- 16 hours ago
- 7 min read
Knowledge is the lifeblood of modern organizations. Unlike physical assets, knowledge grows in value the more it is shared and applied. Knowledge Management (KM) is the discipline of capturing, organizing, distributing, and leveraging both tacit and explicit knowledge to create value, drive innovation, and sustain competitive advantage. From lessons learned in projects to structured repositories, KM ensures organizations don’t reinvent the wheel but instead learn and adapt. However, effective KM requires a shared language.
This Knowledge Management Glossary of 100 essential terms gives professionals, managers, and learners a comprehensive foundation to better understand KM practices, tools, and philosophies. Whether you’re building a KM program, optimizing collaboration, or strengthening organizational learning, these terms will help clarify concepts and promote effective application.
1. Knowledge Management
The discipline focused on systematically creating, storing, sharing, and applying knowledge across an organization. It aligns people, processes, and technology to maximize knowledge value.
2. Tacit Knowledge
Personal knowledge based on experience, skills, and intuition. It is often difficult to express or document but crucial to organizational learning.
3. Explicit Knowledge
Knowledge that has been documented or codified, such as manuals, databases, or policies, making it easier to share.
4. Implicit Knowledge
Knowledge not yet articulated but which can be expressed through effort, unlike tacit knowledge which is harder to formalize.
5. Knowledge Worker
An employee whose primary role is to create, manage, and apply knowledge — for example, engineers, consultants, and analysts.
6. Intellectual Capital
The intangible value of an organization’s knowledge assets, including human skills, processes, and relational networks.
7. Knowledge Repository
A centralized system or platform where knowledge assets are stored, organized, and retrieved.
8. Knowledge Audit
A structured review that identifies knowledge assets, flows, gaps, and inefficiencies within an organization.
9. Knowledge Capture
Processes used to collect and preserve knowledge, often to ensure critical expertise isn’t lost.
10. Knowledge Retention
Strategies to prevent loss of knowledge during turnover or retirement, ensuring continuity in operations.
11. Knowledge Transfer
The process of moving knowledge from one person or group to another to ensure shared understanding and continuity.
12. Knowledge Mapping
The visualization of where knowledge resides in an organization and how it flows across people, processes, and systems.
13. Knowledge Culture
An environment that encourages openness, sharing, collaboration, and learning as key organizational values.
14. Knowledge Governance
Structures and policies that ensure knowledge is managed, maintained, and shared responsibly.
15. Communities of Practice
Groups formed around a shared area of interest or expertise that foster collaborative learning and innovation.
16. Lessons Learned
Documented insights from experiences, highlighting successes and failures to improve future performance.
17. Best Practices
Proven methods considered most effective for achieving objectives and commonly shared within KM frameworks.
18. After-Action Review
A structured meeting used to reflect on an event or project, capturing what worked and what didn’t.
19. Organizational Learning
The process through which organizations build knowledge collectively, adapting to change and improving performance.
20. Knowledge Lifecycle
The stages knowledge undergoes: creation, capture, storage, dissemination, use, and retirement.
21. Codification
The practice of turning tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge by documenting it for reuse.
22. Personalization
A KM approach that focuses on connecting people to share knowledge directly rather than emphasizing documents.
23. Knowledge Strategy
A defined plan for how knowledge will be created, stored, shared, and applied to meet business goals.
24. Knowledge Broker
An intermediary who connects people with knowledge resources or expertise.
25. Knowledge Innovation
Using knowledge in creative ways to generate new ideas, products, or processes.
26. Knowledge Continuity
Ensuring essential knowledge remains available despite turnover, restructuring, or disruptions.
27. Knowledge Dissemination
The distribution of knowledge throughout an organization to ensure access and usability.
28. Knowledge Accessibility
The ease with which employees and stakeholders can locate and use knowledge resources.
29. Knowledge Curation
Organizing and presenting knowledge in ways that make it more accessible and valuable.
30. Knowledge Ecosystem
The interconnected network of people, processes, and tools that create and exchange knowledge.
31. Knowledge Gap
The difference between current knowledge and the knowledge required to achieve organizational goals.
32. Knowledge Enablement
Tools and practices that make it easier for employees to find and apply knowledge.
33. Double-Loop Learning
Learning that challenges assumptions and mental models, not just correcting errors.
34. Knowledge Ownership
Accountability for maintaining and updating knowledge assets within the organization.
35. Knowledge Analytics
Using data to evaluate how knowledge is being created, shared, and applied to improve KM systems.
36. Knowledge Loss
The reduction of organizational knowledge due to turnover, poor retention, or lack of documentation.
37. Knowledge Capitalization
Transforming organizational knowledge into assets that can be reused and scaled.
38. Storytelling in KM
Using narratives to communicate tacit knowledge effectively and memorably.
39. KM System
A technological platform that supports the full lifecycle of knowledge, from creation to use.
40. Knowledge Taxonomy
A classification framework for organizing knowledge into structured categories.
41. Metadata
Information about data, such as author, date, or subject, that improves retrieval and context.
42. Knowledge Searchability
The ease with which knowledge can be located within repositories or systems.
43. Collaborative Tools
Digital platforms that support co-creation and sharing of knowledge, like wikis or team chat systems.
44. Content Management System (CMS)
A system designed to organize, store, and manage content effectively.
45. Document Management
The structured control of documents, including versioning, archiving, and retrieval.
46. Knowledge Dissemination Channels
Methods used to share knowledge, such as training, newsletters, or intranets.
47. Knowledge Retention Plan
A structured approach to capturing critical expertise before employees leave.
48. Knowledge Integration
Combining knowledge from different sources to create holistic solutions.
49. Knowledge Risk
The potential loss of competitiveness due to insufficient knowledge practices.
50. Knowledge Sharing
The deliberate exchange of knowledge among individuals or groups to maximize its value.
51. Knowledge Audit Trail
Records that trace how knowledge is created, modified, and shared across the organization.
52. Knowledge Benchmarking
Comparing knowledge processes and performance against best-in-class organizations.
53. Knowledge Redundancy
Duplicate or unnecessary knowledge that clutters systems and reduces efficiency.
54. KM Champion
An advocate who promotes knowledge practices and helps embed KM in culture.
55. Knowledge Portal
A gateway or platform that provides centralized access to diverse knowledge resources.
56. Informal Knowledge Sharing
Unstructured knowledge exchange, often occurring in conversations, social interactions, or mentoring.
57. Knowledge Bottleneck
A point where knowledge flow is restricted due to lack of access or reliance on a single individual.
58. Knowledge Discovery
The process of uncovering new insights from existing data and information.
59. Knowledge Outsourcing
Leveraging external experts or partners to supplement organizational knowledge.
60. Knowledge Steward
An individual responsible for maintaining accuracy and relevance of specific knowledge assets.
61. Knowledge Validation
Ensuring the reliability and accuracy of knowledge before distribution or application.
62. Knowledge Visualization
Using diagrams, models, or graphics to make knowledge easier to understand and apply.
63. Knowledge Application
The process of using organizational knowledge to solve problems, innovate, and make decisions.
64. Knowledge Stewardship
The long-term responsibility for protecting and nurturing organizational knowledge.
65. Peer Learning
Learning from colleagues through collaboration, mentoring, or informal discussion.
66. Knowledge Incentives
Rewards and recognition systems designed to encourage knowledge sharing.
67. Expert Systems
Technology that applies expert knowledge to provide solutions or recommendations.
68. Decision Support System
A system that uses knowledge to aid decision-making in complex environments.
69. Intellectual Property
Legally protected knowledge assets such as patents, copyrights, or trade secrets.
70. Social Learning
Knowledge gained through observing, imitating, and interacting with others.
71. Organizational Memory
The collective knowledge retained within an organization across time.
72. Semantic Search
Search technology that interprets meaning and context to find more relevant results.
73. Knowledge Harvesting
Actively extracting knowledge from experts for documentation and sharing.
74. Crowdsourcing Knowledge
Gathering knowledge and insights from a broad community or external audience.
75. Knowledge Obsolescence
When knowledge becomes outdated or irrelevant due to changes in environment or technology.
76. Learning Organization
An organization that continually evolves by encouraging learning and adaptation.
77. Knowledge Validation Framework
A structured process for testing the accuracy and usefulness of knowledge assets.
78. Informal Networks
Unstructured social or professional networks through which tacit knowledge often flows.
79. Knowledge Flow
The movement of knowledge through individuals, teams, and systems.
80. Knowledge Redundancy Management
The process of reducing duplicate information to maintain clarity and efficiency.
81. Human Capital
The skills, knowledge, and abilities of employees that drive organizational performance.
82. Knowledge Quality
The degree to which knowledge is accurate, timely, and relevant to users.
83. Content Curation
Selecting and organizing content for users to enhance knowledge access and value.
84. Knowledge Utility
The practical usefulness of knowledge in achieving organizational goals.
85. Informal Mentoring
An unstructured relationship where knowledge flows from experienced to less experienced employees.
86. Institutional Knowledge
Knowledge that reflects the history, policies, and culture of an organization.
87. Tacit Knowledge Sharing
Techniques like shadowing or apprenticeships to share unspoken knowledge.
88. Thought Leadership
Leveraging expertise to establish authority and influence in a domain.
89. Social Capital
The value derived from relationships and networks that facilitate knowledge flow.
90. Epistemology
The philosophical study of knowledge and how it is acquired, a foundation for KM.
91. Knowledge Transfer Plan
A structured roadmap for ensuring critical knowledge moves to successors or peers.
92. Workplace Learning
Knowledge gained through daily tasks, collaboration, and on-the-job experiences.
93. Digital Knowledge Sharing
Using digital platforms to facilitate the flow of knowledge across boundaries.
94. Knowledge Waste
Inefficient or unused knowledge that fails to contribute to organizational success.
95. Expert Directory
A searchable system listing experts within the organization to facilitate knowledge access.
96. KM Maturity Model
A framework that measures how advanced and effective an organization’s KM practices are.
97. Collective Intelligence
The combined knowledge and insights of groups that exceed individual capabilities.
98. Knowledge Lifecycle Management
The comprehensive approach to managing all stages of knowledge assets.
99. Knowledge Sustainability
Ensuring knowledge practices are enduring, adaptable, and supportive of long-term goals.
100. Knowledge Resilience
The ability of an organization to retain and use knowledge even during disruption or crisis.
Thanks for reading Knowledge Management Glossary
Key Learning Resources can be found here:
Subscribe and share your thoughts and experiences in the comments!
Professional Project Manager Templates are available here
Hashtags
