Identity management for improved organisational efficiency and e-business growth: managing enterprise knowledge

Identity Management is the creation, management and use of online, or digital identities. Millions of people around the world now use the internet daily at home and at work, facing a multiplicity of corporate applications and e-business interfaces. Many such applications and interfaces require a unique user name and as a result, an individual typically possesses not one but several digital identities. The importance of digital identity management for building trust relationships and the next generation e- and m-business services is becoming all the more evident with the proliferation of ubiquitous, pervasive and mobile computing systems, all of which require advanced, automated identity management systems for their effective and efficient operation. Indeed, growth of internet commerce (both wired and wireless) has been hindered by the lack of trust between consumers and service providers. As an organisation trying to meet the challenges of today's economy while at the same time trying to maintain a secure network environment, starting with the right e-business foundation is critical. A new perspective on knowledge management in organisations is being created. Knowledge Management is description, organisation, sharing and development of knowledge in the firm and even across firms. Organisations are viewed as bodies of knowledge, and knowledge management is considered as an increasingly important source of competitive advantage for organisations. This paper applies the knowledge-based view of the firm that has established itself as an important perspective in identity management. Identity Management has proven to be the right foundation for companies around the globe. Convergence in Information Technology means that there is no difference between Knowledge Management, e-business, Content Management, Community and Collaboration. When Knowledge Management is combined with Identity Management, inter and intra-organisational interaction is possible in a secure, reliable, and effective manner. This innovative and collaborative approach to business will have a significant impact on the way businesses operate. In this paper, we tackle the technical aspects of identity management, approaches and challenges of managing identities in knowledge-oriented organisations for the benefit of the users and businesses. The importance of mobile identity management is illustrated in the emerging field of ubiquitous computing. The paper highlights an important concept of managing identity information known as "Federated Identity Management", an important tool for managing knowledge within and among organisations.