The Role of Knowledge Management in the Large Non Profit Firm: Building a Framework for KM Success

Abstract

This paper examines the role of knowledge management (KM) in not-for-profit organisations (NFPs) using case study methodology and advances previous KM work. NFPs are essential in developing sustainable communities providing many social, environmental, health and human services required by a vast amount of community stakeholders. With limited research related to KM in an NFP setting, this paper advances knowledge and offers a unique view of KM from the perspective of three large NFP cases. Adopting case study methodology, this paper explores the definition of knowledge in the organisation, the importance of knowledge planning, capture and diffusion; and offers recommendations for the required enablers of knowledge management practice and development from the organizational stakeholder perspective. The paper concludes by introducing the link between knowledge management, performance management and internal marketing to address the personal issues of 'me' as key to supporting knowledge renewal which is central to knowledge management.