Towards a definition of "functions" in "knowledge management" practice

If ´knowledge management´ is to emerge from its currently fragmented and ill-defined state, its academic and practice based proponents must be able to provide some key assertions, guiding frameworks and methodology to guide ´knowledge management´ practice. There need not be consensus on these, but they must be able to provide conceptual clarity on areas of agreement and disagreement. This paper provides: (i) a number of ´positional assertions´ which are used as definitional statements about the nature of ´knowledge management´; these are used to help derive; (ii) three core functions of ´knowledge management´ practice. By doing this, the paper provides: (i) a basis upon which practical guidance on undertaking ´knowledge management´ can be based; and (ii) a basis upon which the development of professional standards and activities can start to emerge