Fernandez et al. (2006)

Management > Organisational Knowledge and Information Systems > Lectures > Independent Research > KM and TQM

Fernandez et al. (2006) - Knowledge Management and TQM

Discusses the Knowledge spiral (tacit-tacit, tacit-explicit, explicit-explicit, explicit-tacit) of Nonaka and Takeuchi (1995)
It is about continuous improvement. Mentions that it is similar to TQM

TQM is about human management, where employees are the customers. This fits into Drucker’s (2002) idea of the knowledge worker. KM can only work in a TQM environment.

Argues that TQM methods, such as the Shewart cycle, work with Nonaka and Takeuchi’s spiral focus. Both revolve around the idea of continuous improvement.

(I would argue that KM is a part of TQM, which includes more than the management of knowledge – see Deming’s points of management). Seems that TQM follows more explicit knowledge gathering (plan, do, check, act) and works with tacit knowledge to create the knowledge spiral.

QC = socialisation (tacit to tacit)
Training programs = internalisation (explicit to tacit)
Employee suggestion programs = externalisation (tacit to explicit, sort of!)
Benchmarking = combination

Conclusion – KM should be based on TQM