Adopting Knowledge Management in an E-Learning System: Insights and Views of KM and EL Research Scholars

The main goal of this study is to explore the insights and views from knowledge management (KM) and E-learning (EL) research scholars through a face-to-face interview for determining the relationship between KM and EL as well as for adopting KM in an EL system. We conducted this study based on the review of existing concepts and frameworks of KM and EL available in the secondary sources of information, and the findings of the face-to-face interviews of 17 (Seventeen) KM and EL research scholars from all over the world. We selected the respondents from the participants of two international conferences held in Japan and Thailand in 2010. The interviews were conducted during the break of the conferences using a carefully structured, short and open ended questionnaire. The levels of understanding of KM and EL among the research scholars were varied. The results indicate that there are some common goals and significant overlaps between the two knowledge domains. They also delineate the significant implications and advantages of adopting KM and EL. The proposed model of this study theoretically contributes to the advancement of academic debate in both KM and EL domains. Since we interviewed only 17 KM and EL research scholars worldwide from two international conferences held in 2010, the results of this study may not reflect the general scenario of the world. However, the study suggests that EL professionals should adopt KM and apply the techniques of KM to an EL system for the overall enhancement of the e-learning process. The study explored the original views and insights of the KM and EL research scholars regarding the relationship between KM and EL as well as adopting KM in an EL system.