Gestão do conhecimento em organizações: proposta de mapeamento conceitual integrativo

This research work investigates the theme known as “Knowledge Management” (KM) in three large brazilian organizations trying to discuss its concepts, constituent elements, frontiers and interfaces, origins, managerial approaches and tools, dynamics and other aspects, while aiming at leaving behind the purely terminological discussion, which is, in its turn, innocuous and naïve. The basic presuppositions were two, respectively: (i) most of what it ́s reffered to or named “Knowledge Management” is actually “Information Management” and information management is just one of the components of knowledge management. Consequently, knowledge management is more than simply information management due to the fact that it includes and incorporates other aspects, themes, approaches and concerns such as the creation, use and sharing of information and knowledge in the organizational context, not to mention the creation of the so called “enabling context” or “enabling conditions”, among others; (ii) a conceptual model or map can be formulated based on three basic conceptions: (a) a strategic conception of information and knowledge, factors of competitiveness for organizations and nations; (b) the introduction of such strategy in the tactical and operational levels through the several managerial aprroaches and information technology tools, which are susceptible to communication and orchestration; (c) the creation of an organizational space for knowledge or the enabling context – the favorable conditions that should be provided by organizations in order for them to use the best information and knowledge available. The main objective is to investigate and analyze, from a systemic perspective, the conceptions, strategies, motivations, approaches, practices, effects and results of knowledge management areas, programs or projects effectively implemented and in use in three brazilian organizations, aiming at proposing a conceptual integrative model or map. The qualitative research strategy used was the study of multiple cases with incorporated units of analysis and three criteria were observed for the judgment of the quality of the research project: validity of the construct, external validity and reliability. Multiple sources of evidence were used and the proposal of MILES & HUBERMAN (1984) was adopted in order to analyze the data collected in the field. Their proposal consists of three flows of activities: data reduction, data displays and conclusion drawing/verification. The results confirmed the presuppositions and the fact that knowledge management means a rethinking of the management of the knowing organizations or organizations of the information era. This statement has its origins in the comprehension that information and knowledge are the main factors of competitiveness for contemporary organizations and nations. It was also identified that the main challenges facing organizations committed to knowledge management have its focus on change management, cultural and behavioral issues and the creation of an enabling context that favors the creation, use and sharing of information and knowledge.