krcoburn

Knowledge Management and Critical Thinking
Kristina Coburn

ABSTRACT
This discussion covers the numerous definitions of knowledge management and other professionals’ opinions on this topic. Also, this piece briefly touches on current mediums that are used as communication devices for knowledge. To delve deeper into this discussion, this piece discusses the information beyond definitions on theories and goes to the root of communication. To first communicate information the individual must first think clear thoughts. This is where critical thinking occurs within this subject. By thinking critically as individuals and making good use of our other knowledge management tools were are improving as leaders.
Today the transferring of information and use of knowledge management has become easier with the advancement of information technologies such as the Internet, signal transmission, mobile phones etc. Websites such as youtube.com are frequently visited millions of times a day. No longer do we hear of international news weeks after the event has occurred, with the use of our advanced technologies we are able to see history as it is being made. For example, recently with the Serbian riots, viewers were able to see this controversial burning of the U.S. Embassy through Internet, iPhones and minute-by-minute updates on CNN.

Knowledge Management
Knowledge management is the transferring of ideas, information and concepts. According to Jay Edwin Gillette, the word information can be defined as “a component of knowledge. It occupies a central position in a scale of knowledge from phenomena to wisdom” (Gillette, 2000, Table 2). Wisdom can be achieved through personal experience. This level of knowledge is considered the highest level of understanding. Bill Gates defines knowledge management, as “nothing more than managing information flow, getting the right information to the people who need it so that they can act on it quickly” (Gillette, 2000, 3). Gates’ definition of knowledge management is influenced by a business persuasion.
Since knowledge management relies on information, to cut to the root of the problem I believe we must first think clear thoughts. By being a critical thinker, we have another tool in obtaining knowledge management. As Dr. Gillette suggests knowledge management is the question “How we know what we know”. He explains that epistemology, the theory of knowledge, is based upon the Greek word for knowledge, episteme. I found it interesting that the root of this philosophical word could be defined as “understanding,” what we stand upon (Gillette, 2000, 2).

Critical Thinking
As I have stated before critical thinking is essential in knowledge management. It plays a important role in how we obtain our information, create opinions, establish perspectives, and create a base on how we know what we know as leaders and individuals. Brookfield states,” Being critical thinkers entails a continual questioning of assumptions. People can never be in a state of complete critical development” (Wren, 1995, 381). Without critical thinking things would stay in a stagnant state, where thoughts are not questioned just acknowledged. As leaders we need to be able to distinguish our own individual beliefs from others, or knowing what we know and how we know it.
“Leadership is heading into the wind with such knowledge of oneself and collaborative energy as to move others to follow”, states Warren Bennis and Burt Nanus (Peters, 1987, 141). Without critical thinking we never learn to challenge others way of thinking, therefore never establishing our own unique personality. This type of individuality sets the leader apart from the crowd. This similar concept can be found in Dr. Gillette’s dissertation on knowledge management, although he calls this concept “wisdom” rather than critical thinking. According to Dr. Gillette, “Wisdom is the ability to discern, to make judgments” (Gillette, 2000, 8).
“Knowledge is the foundation for our view of things, and knowledge is the basis of our actions”, quotes Dr. Gillette (Gillette, 2000, 3). I think this quote speaks volumes and is illustrated accurately in his Information in Scale of Knowledge table. Understanding the basis of what we know and how we know it is based primarily on perspective. This is illustrated under the Phenomena category of Dr. Gillette’s table. Phenomena under this context are described in regards to knowledge as “those, which appear to be”. I understand this as how we perceive the information we are mentally digesting. For example, two individuals can see the same speaker and walk away with different information or value that they believed to be important. Perspectives, or as Dr. Gillette calls it, Phenomena, can be described as how we formulate the information that is given to us.

Personal Views
From my research I have come to understand that knowledge management primarily involves the flow of information. Each person has a different take or perspective on that information because it is greatly affected by perspectives and experience. I agree with Dr. Gillette that first we must understand what we know and how we know it. I think this is related to critical thinking, or as Tom Peters describes it, establishing our own unique personality. As leaders we must be able to understand our own thoughts and what we stand for in order to influence followers.

Bibliography
Gillette, Jay. (2000). “Information Knowledge in Motion”: A Practical Framework
for Understanding Knowledge Management.
Wren, J. Thomas. (1995). The Leader’s Companion: Insights on Leadership
Through the Ages. New York, N.Y. The Free Press.
Peters, Tom. (1987). Thriving on Chaos. New York, N.Y.: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.