Today’s knowledge-driven economy raises the stakes for organizations and individuals whose success depends on the effective management of information and knowledge. Knowledge is an asset that is not always easily tapped, especially when embedded in products and in the tacit understanding of highly mobile individual employees. Knowledge management (KM) represents a deliberate and systematic approach to cultivating and sharing an organization's knowledge base. This thoroughly revised new edition of the leading knowledge management textbook offers a comprehensive and accessible overview of the theory and practice of KM. Drawing on ideas, tools, and techniques from such disciplines as sociology, cognitive science, organizational behavior, and information science, it serves as an invaluable resource for students and researchers across information sciences, business, education, and communication. Global in scope and updated to reflect the maturing field, this fourth edition emphasizes optimizing KM and measuring its success and impact in meaningful ways.