What is knowledge management?

Knowledge management is the systematic process of identifying, organizing, storing and disseminating information within an organization. When people can easily access information at work, they have more time to focus on meaningful tasks and contribute to the company's success.

Overall, efficient knowledge management systems enable informed decision-making, greater collaboration, and faster innovation.

5 Examples of Knowledge Management Systems

Knowledge management systems vary between organizations depending on size, work culture, and business objectives. Common solutions include:

1. Time tracking software:  Tracking attendance and  time spent on projects can help make businesses more efficient and ensure accurate payments.
2. Performance Management Software: Leveraging software to conduct regular  reviews  , provide constructive feedback, and generate reports  helps increase employee engagement and creates opportunities to resolve issues immediately.
3. Applicant Tracking System (ATS):  Recruiters  use ATS to keep applicant information organized throughout the entire hiring process and provide a seamless candidate experience. 
4. Customer relationship management (CRM) software:  Centralizing information about customers and potential customers helps businesses increase sales and foster long-term relationships.
5. Document management software:  This system is used to create, modify, store, share, and manage files to improve collaboration and access to information within an organization.

Types of knowledge in business

Knowledge is the awareness that an organization or individual acquires through collaboration, education, or experience.  According to Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning  , there are six aspects of learning: remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating, and creating. Each of these is rooted in four types of knowledge:

• Factual knowledge  is the recall of facts, such as dates, events, ideas, and vocabulary (e.g., the name of a company's founder or when the business started).
• Conceptual knowledge  ties together pieces of concepts or principles (for example, a marketing team sees higher customer engagement on content with clear calls-to-action and eye-catching visuals).
• Procedural knowledge  is the understanding of how to perform specific skills or tasks (for example, a cashier must know how to quickly record purchases and balance a register).
• Metacognitive knowledge  refers to the use of prior knowledge to develop new processes and strategies (e.g., after analyzing bottlenecks, an HR team creates a new and improved hiring process).

It is important to note that types of knowledge and the cognitive processes behind learning are highly debated topics, so Bloom's Taxonomy is just one of many frameworks available for reference.

Do You Need a Knowledge Management Certification?

Generally, knowledge management certification is not required for employment. However, it may be beneficial depending on your career goals, industry standards, and personal learning preferences. Program courses cover topics such as information technology, business processes, data analysis, organizational development, and more, helping professionals broaden their expertise in a variety of areas.

Professional knowledge management certifications are available from a variety of organizations, many of which are specific to the educational institution and updated based on programming. For example,  the KM Institute  advertises the following certifications:

• Certified Knowledge Manager (CKM)
• Certified Knowledge Expert (CKS)
• Certified Knowledge Practitioner (CKP)
• e-Certified Knowledge Manager (eCKM)

Some colleges and universities also offer knowledge management degree programs at the graduate level.