A Biological Theory of Knowledge and Applications to Real World Organizations

Abstract

This paper extends an epistemologically grounded biological theory of organization and knowledge based on Karl Popper's evolutionary epistemology and three worlds ontology, amalgamating concepts from evolutionary biology, emergence and hierarchy theory, autopoiesis, and military affairs. We discuss how this body of theory is being used to guide and inform KM research and development in a geographically extended industrial and project management organization. Applicability of the biological and epistemological framework is demonstrated in a study of the emergence and sustainment of communities of practice, in the development of a methodology for improving business processes, and in the implementation of managing engineering knowledge over the lifecycles of fleets of ships and vehicles.

Keywords: Epistemology, Autopoiesis, Organization Theory, Hierarchy Theory, Complexity, Karl Popper, Knowledge Management