Knowledge Management Implementation: An Evolutionary Process in Organizations

The implementation of knowledge management projects continues to be a challenge for many organizations. A project of such nature involves the introduction of new information technologies, changes in business processes, and often changes in the organizational culture. In this paper, we have studied the implementation of knowledge management initiatives in 11 firms operating in Portugal. Data were mainly collected through semi-structured interviews with top managers. The aim of this research is to analyze the process and factors associated with knowledge management implementation and develop a framework, with different stages, to guide the implementation of knowledge management in organizations. The theoretical and practical contribution to this framework is discussed, as well as the findings in each case study. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.