Purpose - In the past, regions competed for the attraction of large physical infrastructures, which in their point of view would make them competitive in face of others. Today, the success of individuals, organizations and territories depends on the mobilization of intangible assets. As they enter themselves in the knowledge era, territories are not doing more than answering to the digital economy settled on the planet and that is reinforced by strategic options being made by states. Knowledge is an indispensable resource for innovation, supporting competitive advantage at a time when innovation cycles are becoming increasingly shorter. Therefore, knowledge is strategic to the survival of society in general and to territories in particular and its management becomes mandatory also at this level. This work aims at bringing the territory to the central stage of knowledge research, by discussing current theories dealing with micro, meso and macro levels and proposing a first approach to an integrative model of knowledge management. Design/methodology/approach The study methodology encompasses four steps. First, we review concepts in the area of Operations Management relevant to Knowledge Management research. Then we analyze models of intellectual capital and learning interactions and explore the mechanisms of knowledge creation at the individual and organizational level. Using an operations management approach we then investigate whether knowledge management at the territorial level incorporates existing mechanisms at both individual and organizational level. Finally we propose an integrative model of knowledge management linking the micro, meso and macro levels. Originality/value - Our work shows that territories can be modelled as value networks, consisting of several knowledge value chains where knowledge comes not only as a support to the processes, but as an integral part of the same, and exposes intra and inter-levels value creation processes. People are the essence of the network because it is in them that knowledge resides and it is through them that it is spread, becoming embedded in the different groups, local or not, they belong to. Organizations benefit from the knowledge of individuals, redirecting it within their goals and incorporating it into the processes and the networks to which they belong, generating new knowledge for themselves, for individuals and for the territory in general. The territory consists of an intricate mesh of individuals and organizations that receive their knowledge and that seeks to maximize it, in order to start new cycles in which new knowledge is made available to various actors: individuals, organizations and territory. Practical implications - Territories face challenges of assertion and integration into economic and social networks, locally and globally. They should be able to state as entities with their own dynamics, mobilizing local resources and agents, combining actors and developing economic and social models and pathways, ensuring the sustainability of its development. The key to economic grow and sustainability is the balanced interaction of economic, social, technological and cultural dimensions of society. Economy and territories are increasingly characterized by flows of information and knowledge that is dispersed in organizations and society being simultaneously raw material and output. Therefore, it is fundamental to understand how to manage the processes of knowledge creation, transfer and activation at the micro, meso and macro levels and the relationships and flows between the all levels. Our work provides a knowledge management model that may be used by territory stakeholders to achieve sustainable development.
