One of my earliest posts (Jun 12, 2003) was KM and the Brain (included in its entirety below for ease of reference). Looking at it again nearly 2 1/2 years later I still think the main idea is valid, though I have one update.
Specifically, I think that the neuroscience aspect of KM relates more directly to the behavior of individuals within an organization (the neurons of the organization) and how they connect (or don’t) to each other. In otherwords, Personal Knowledge Management. Because the main function of IT in KM is to provide these connections, I believe it falls under this aspect as well.
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When we talk about brains, we talk about neuroscience as dealing with the technology and psychology/psychiatry as dealing with the processes of the brain. Many KM practitioners recognize, indeed advocate, the distinction of two perspectives on KM: Object and Process. Together they make up a System perspective. You can’t really look at one without the other. You can’t really function without both. As I’m sure you’ve deduced, I’m leading to an analogy:
Neuroscience Object / Technology Perspective
Psych Process Perspective
In other words, KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT IS THE NEUROSCIENCE AND PSYCHOLOGY/PSYCHIATRY OF AN ORGANIZATION.
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tagged as: PKM, Personal Knowledge Management, Neuroscience, Knowledge Management, Organizational Behavior
no straight lines 