Success Factors in Knowledge Management

The document outlines eight success factors for knowledge management, emphasizing that KM is most effective when tied to operational needs, implemented at the project level rather than solely through corporate strategy, and supported by a combination of internal and external communication strategies. It highlights the importance of senior and mid-level leadership, the use of rapid piloting and experimentation, and the need for long-term sustainability planning for knowledge portals.

• Knowledge management (KM) implementation is more successful when there is a clear, shared understanding of the rationale for adopting it, such as responding to a financial crisis, leadership changes, or the need for competitive advantage in funding environments.
• There is often a disconnect between high-level knowledge-sharing strategies and day-to-day operations; KM is most effective when it is closely aligned with the organization's strategic plan and implemented at the project or field level rather than as a top-down corporate system.
• Effective KM requires a balanced approach to both internal and external knowledge flows. Internal KM focuses on communication and archiving among staff, while external KM focuses on delivering insights to decision-makers and experts to ensure the organization's knowledge creates an actual impact.
• Rather than a single overarching strategy, organizations should deploy a combination of related but independent strategies covering internal communications, influencing relationships with experts, broader knowledge dissemination, and administrative infrastructure support.
• Successful KM requires defined roles across different management levels, including senior management champions for long-term support and mid-management champions to connect knowledge flows to operations. It also requires recognizing 'connectors' and 'salespeople' who can communicate messages, not just research experts ('mavens').
• Rapid piloting and experimentation with new technologies—such as blogs, Wikis, and online communities—can be as effective as large-scale planning from the outset.
• Many knowledge-sharing portals fail due to a lack of long-term sustainability planning, specifically regarding the resources and willingness to keep information current and upgrade systems as user needs and technologies evolve.

APA

Creech, H. (2005). Success Factors in Knowledge Management. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_km_success.pdf

Chicago

Creech, Heather. Success Factors in Knowledge Management. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2005. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_km_success.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Creech |first1=Heather |title=Success Factors in Knowledge Management |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2005 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_km_success.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{creech2005success, author = {Creech, Heather}, title = {{Success Factors in Knowledge Management}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2005}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_km_success.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }