Implementation of Knowledge Management in R and D Institutions

Knowledge could be considered as the strategic key resource for the 21st century. Utilization of knowledge is a base for decision making processes. Knowledge management is an approach that many R and D organizations or institutions use to deal with knowledge but the success of knowledge management depends mainly on understanding and supporting the user's need to know. Implementation of knowledge management has to be based on a concrete definition of knowledge management. The main problem comes from different perspectives. So, all features of knowledge management should be used as a base for knowledge management definition and, later, knowledge management implementation. Some of these features are: description of knowledge management as a performance of knowledge processes, association of knowledge management with the institutional objectives, connection of knowledge management with institutional processes, orientation of knowledge management activities to greater competitiveness, productivity and effectiveness, link of knowledge management with information and communication technologies, and, finally, relation of knowledge management with decision making. A general methodology of knowledge management implementation in R and D institutions is very hard to find and to apply. It leads to particular efforts of individual institutions to develop their own methodology depending on their own needs and objectives.(author).