CEO's received bonuses. Remaining workers often could not do the jobs of the terminated personnel who took their knowledge with them. Knowledge is a slippery, complex concept. Information is a message sent to inform a receiver. Few of us would confuse knowledge with data.
Knowledge connotes intelligence, experience, insight, and expertise.
We carry our knowledge in our minds, not on a message pad. As intangible as it is, knowledge has value and should be treated as an organizational asset. Buyers seek understanding about fairly complex matters, not just facts. They are often managers and executives who understand the value of what they seek, though everyone plays the role of buyer sometime. Sellers are those believed to have the knowledge needed by buyers.