From Information Management to Knowledge Management

By Tan Thai Soon

1. The differences in classification between "information" and "knowledge" can be important and sometimes confusing.

2. Information
2.1. In general, information can appear in many forms: traditional media like paper; information media like data mining; and online media like web blog and web directory.

2.2. In the information age, it is often claimed that we are being flooded by too much information, relevant and irrelevant.

3.Information Management
3.1. Information technology provides the tools for information management system.

3.2. Technology associated with the computer is "not passive but active tools that manage the process of work" (Sviokla, 1996). Information technology tools that help in the "process of work" can be managed through information management.

4. Information Management to Knowledge Management
4.1. Information management can be transformed into knowledge management by synthesizing the information technology tool with human capacities, or by "integrating qualitative and quantitative" aspects of a knowledge management system (Liao, 2003)

4.2. According to Alavi and Leidner (2001) " information is converted to knowledge once it is processed in the mind of individuals"

4.3. When information being "internalized" into the human mind, it is part of the knowledge creation process.

5. Summary
In summary, both information management process and knowledge management process play an important role in the knowledge creation process. Effective "knowledge creation process" needs both information management system/tools and human knowledge capacity building.