Managing Orphan Knowledge: Current Australasian Best Practice

Presented at 16th Nordic Academy of Management Meeting, Sweden, August 2001

14 Pages Posted: 5 Apr 2009

See all articles by Richard Petty

Richard Petty

Macquarie University; Macquarie University, Macquarie Business School

Ian Caddy

affiliation not provided to SSRN

James Guthrie

Macquarie University - Department of Accounting and Finance; University Of Bologna - Department of Management; Macquarie University, Macquarie Business School

Date Written: August 16, 2001

Abstract

To date, managing intellectual capital has focused on maximizing possibilities to create knowledge, while minimizing changes of loosing g knowledge. However, effective intellectual capital management should consider another dimension : orphan knowledge. Orphan knowledge relates to questions such as: do organizations "unlearn" things or forget things and repeat past mistakes? Do some organizations unnecessarily duplicate equivalent activities within different areas of the organization? If orphan knowledge exists, then organizations need to understand their potential for creating orphan knowledge. This paper defines orphan knowledge, and provides evidence of its potential by developing various scenarios and relating case-study analysis from a sample of Australasian organizations. Indications are that even in organizations considered current "best practice" in managing intellectual capital, there is a medium to high potential for orphan knowledge types, namely explicit versus tacit knowledge, have differing potential for knowledge orphaning. Further research will consider the chief knowledge officer's role in preventing and recovering organization orphan knowledge.

Keywords: Information, Intellectual Capital, Management, Intangible assets, Liability

JEL Classification: M40, M41, M49

Suggested Citation

Petty, Richard and Caddy, Ian and Guthrie, James, Managing Orphan Knowledge: Current Australasian Best Practice (August 16, 2001). Presented at 16th Nordic Academy of Management Meeting, Sweden, August 2001, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1372429

Richard Petty

Macquarie University ( email )

North Ryde
Sydney, New South Wales 2109
Australia

Macquarie University, Macquarie Business School ( email )

New South Wales 2109
Australia

Ian Caddy

affiliation not provided to SSRN

James Guthrie (Contact Author)

Macquarie University - Department of Accounting and Finance ( email )

Sydney - NSW, 2109
Australia

University Of Bologna - Department of Management ( email )

P.Le Vittoria 15
Forli', 47121
Italy
+39-0543-374-621 (Phone)

Macquarie University, Macquarie Business School ( email )

New South Wales 2109
Australia