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The research core of the knowledge management literature

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  • Wallace, Danny P.
  • Van Fleet, Connie
  • Downs, Lacey J.

Abstract

A bibliometric analysis and a content analysis were conducted to explore the nature of the knowledge management literature. For the bibliometric analysis, three levels of Bradford analysis were used to examine the shape of the knowledge management literature based on 21,596 references from 2771 source publications. Each of the three analyses conformed to the typical curve of the Bradford distribution. For the content analysis, the texts of 630 knowledge management articles were analyzed to address the question of what research methodologies are used in the knowledge management literature. It was found that 27.8 percent of knowledge management-related articles in knowledge management journals used no identifiable research method. Of the remaining 455 refereed articles, 60 percent employed mainstream social sciences research methodologies. The remaining 40 percent of the articles using an identifiable methodology were characterized by the use of “provisional methods” that appeared to substitute for more formally defined or scientifically based research methodologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Wallace, Danny P. & Van Fleet, Connie & Downs, Lacey J., 2011. "The research core of the knowledge management literature," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 14-20.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ininma:v:31:y:2011:i:1:p:14-20
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2010.10.002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ye‐Sho Chen & P. Pete Chong & Morgan Y. Tong, 1995. "Dynamic behavior of Bradford's law," Journal of the American Society for Information Science, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 46(5), pages 370-383, June.
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    3. Danny P. Wallace, 1986. "The relationship between journal productivity and obsolescence," Journal of the American Society for Information Science, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 37(3), pages 136-145, May.
    4. Middleton, Michael, 2007. "A framework for information management: Using case studies to test application," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(1), pages 9-21.
    5. Ye‐Sho Chen, 1995. "On the dynamic behavior of Bradford's Law—response," Journal of the American Society for Information Science, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 46(10), pages 799-800, December.
    6. Geoffrey Squires, 2001. "Management as a professional discipline," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(4), pages 473-487, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Venkitachalam, Krishna & Willmott, Hugh, 2017. "Strategic knowledge management—Insights and pitfalls," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 37(4), pages 313-316.
    2. Espinoza-Torres, Diana & Segarra-Oña, Marival, 2022. "Disentangling the relationship between prior knowledge and entrepreneurial orientation: a bibliometric study," TEC Empresarial, School of Business, Costa Rica Institute of Technology (ITCR), vol. 16(2), pages 1-17.
    3. Larsen, Tor J. & Olaisen, Johan, 2013. "Innovating strategically in information and knowledge management: Applications of organizational behavior theory," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 33(5), pages 764-774.
    4. Olaisen, Johan & Revang, Oivind, 2018. "Exploring the performance of tacit knowledge: How to make ordinary people deliver extraordinary results in teams," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 295-304.

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