Mapping the Knowledge Management Domain of Ideas: Evidence from a Practice Group

This article adds to our understanding of the field of knowledge management as an evolving body of concepts, relationships, strategies, and practices. Using qualitative research methods, we examined the activities of a community of practice for knowledge management professionals operating in a large metropolitan U.S. city. Through the analysis, we produced an organizing framework that maps KM topics according to the tactical-strategic orientation of the KM issue and level of analysis (individual-group-enterprise). We constructed and populated the framework based on a content analysis of 44 presentations made from 2001-2005, from survey data, from interviews conducted with key informants, and from data collected as participant-observers. The work provides insight into the decision-making processes regarding the selection of KM topics and adds to our understanding of collective sense making (Weick, 1995) based on the differing needs, values, and perceptions of the multiple stakeholders in this KM community of practice.