Knowledge is power. Since the emergence of knowledge management in the early 1990s, it has become the key competitive resource for firms and nations in an increasingly competitive global economic environment. This affordable and accessible introduction to knowledge management offers a critical look at the history, nature and future of the field, providing essential reading for those questioning contemporary management practices. Written in a lively, conversational style, the nature of knowledge, including its definition and measurement is considered, as well as ignorance, forgetting and unlearning, before the main concepts and theoretical contributions to knowledge management are reviewed and challenged, providing fresh insights into the central debates. The ‘Very Short, Fairly Interesting and Reasonably Cheap Book About‘ series shies away from the sterility of conventional textbooks, offering you an informal and accessible overview of the field that questions and challenges the traditional literature.

Knowledge, Creativity, and Innovation

Knowledge, Creativity, and Innovation

Science is organized knowledge.

Herbert Spencer

Knowledge acquisition through creativity and innovation is the focus of this chapter. In order to explore the relationship between these three entities, we need to look more closely at what we mean by creativity and innovation. It will then be possible to assess how knowledge management can contribute to the creative process, and therefore to innovation.

The terms ‘creativity’ and ‘innovation’ are often used interchangeably, and increasingly so. Although I follow this practice, I will also point to an important distinction between what they designate. Therefore the chapter begins by considering what creativity is and how it relates to innovation. Then it turns to the topic of organizing knowledge for creativity and innovation; here ...

  • Loading...
locked icon

Sign in to access this content

Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

  • Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life
  • Read modern, diverse business cases
  • Explore hundreds of books and reference titles