Andrea Back – författare

The concepts and theories of knowledge management and networks are meanwhile well documented. Yet there are few, if any, guidelines on how to implement knowledge management within an organization, especially focusing on how to manage knowledge in a network environment. This shows that managing knowledge in networks is a rather new and unexplored field. This book visualizes paths that allow one to make connections between theories, concepts and concrete actions. Knowledge networks are organizational forms within companies that connect key experts to share knowledge and therefore fulfil strategic goals. Managing knowledge in network environments is a fast-moving field attempting to integrate various disciplines such as human resources, organizational development, change management, strategy, information technology, sociology and network theory. This book shows how to integrate these different roots into a holistic view on managing knowledge in networks. It develops a methodology which will support the reader to move concrete steps forward towards building and maintaining knowledge networks in his organization.

Companies are constantly searching for new ways of creating higher profit and a larger market share. Growth seems to be the most appropriate tactic for surviving economically in difficult times. New instruments and methods as a support to a company’s growth strategy can be essential in gaining a competitive advantage. Knowledge management is one of the answers to this challenge. It can support strategic goals such as the improvement of efficiency, the minimization of risk and an increase in innovation, but also has inherent potentials which have not been leveraged yet.

The first part of the book contains three case studis which illustrate the idea of knowledge networks for growth. The step-by-step methodology of the second part shows the reader how to build up and maintain these networks . The templates in the last part of the book ease the adaptation of networks for the reader''s own company or his or her specific business needs.