Action knowledge in intellectual capital statements: a definition, a design and a case

Within the field of intellectual capital and knowledge management, the concept of knowledge is burdened by the naïve view of knowledge as passive representations of external reality. An alternative definition is proposed. "Action knowledge" is the categories and distinctions that guide human activity in appropriate ways. In the organisation, this definition highlights the intelligent actions taken by organisational members in pursuit of their goals. The paper offers a design for an intellectual capital statement that emphasises action knowledge in the organisation. A case is presented: the intellectual capital statement of the Danish consulting firm, Nellemann Konsulenterne A/S. It shows a major concern with knowledge sharing and learning activities that bring out the dynamic nature of knowledge, as opposed to the "amount" of knowledge stored in databases and intranets that the representational view of knowledge would lead us to emphasise.