A synthesis of organizational learning and knowledge management literatures

Abstract

This paper synthesizes the literatures from the organizational learning and knowledge management fields. Two distinct epistemological traditions are identified and the literature under each tradition is synthesized separately. Epistemology of possession considers knowledge as an object that can be codified, stored, retrieved and applied to achieve organizational outcomes. The practice-based-perspective of knowledge assumes knowledge as an integral part of doing and as something that cannot be distinct from the process of learning. The major contribution of this paper is to present an integrated model of organizational learning synthesizing the frameworks of Kolb, Crossan et al. and Nonaka.