Knowledge as LoveHow Metaphors Direct our Efforts to Manage Knowledge in Organisations
Keynote address8th European Conference on Knowledge ManagementConsorci Escola Industrial de Barcelona (CEIB), Barcelona, Spain
6-7 September 2007
Dr. Daniel AndriessenINHOLLAND University of professional EducationAmsterdamThe Netherlands
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Simplified
Chinese
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Lakoff and Johnson (1999)
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Create an Create an inventoryinventory of of knowledgeknowledge
Check where Check where knowledge knowledge is is locatedlocated
StoreStore important important knowledgeknowledge
Improve Improve access toaccess to knowledgeknowledge
KNOWLEDGE AS KNOWLEDGE AS A RESOURCEA RESOURCE
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I I got plentygot plenty of of timetime
That That tooktook three hoursthree hours
HeHe wasted wasted my timemy time
This will This will savesave time time
TIME AS A TIME AS A RESOURCERESOURCE
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The TIME ORIENTATION metaphor
PAST
FUTURE
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Aymara’s use the opposite
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MOVING OBSERVER metaphor
EVENT 1
EVENT 2
EVENT 3
“will you be staying a long time or a short time?”
"how long is your visit?"
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MOVING TIME metaphor
TIME
"the time for action has arrived"
"time flies by"
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What happened before the Big Bang?
EVENT 1
EVENT 2
EVENT 3
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Time traveling
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Mapping from source to target
Target Domain(time)
Source Domain(space)
Characteristicsof target domainnot covered by source domain
Characteristicsof source domainnot used by metaphor
metaphoricalentailments
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Time as a moving object metaphor
Time Moving Object
“length”“amount”“scarcity”
“direction”“origin”“destination”
“arrives”“flies by”“speed”
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Mapping from sources to target
Target Domain(TIME)
Source Domain
Source Domain
Source Domain
Source Domain
RESOURCE
SPACE
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Intermezzo 1: truth does not exist
1. as direct observation does not exist because people always use concepts to describe reality…
2. as these concepts derive their meaning from metaphor…
3. as half of these metaphors are embodied in our brain and cannot be shut off or altered…
4. as the choice of the other half is too large extent arbitrary…
…we will never be able to perfectly describe and understand reality and ego, truth (defined as correspondence with reality) does not exist.
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Conceptualisations of knowledge are metaphorical
Knowledge as an object
“Locate knowledge”
“Recognize knowledge”
“Move knowledge”
“Exchange knowledge”
Knowledge as an object
“Locate knowledge”
“Recognize knowledge”
“Move knowledge”
“Exchange knowledge”
Knowledge as a resource
“Apply knowledge”
“Use knowledge”
“Store knowledge”
“Accumulate knowledge”
Knowledge as a resource
“Apply knowledge”
“Use knowledge”
“Store knowledge”
“Accumulate knowledge”
Knowledge as thoughts or feelings
“Articulate knowledge”
“Verbalize knowledge”
“Externalize knowledge”
“Internalize knowledge”
Knowledge as thoughts or feelings
“Articulate knowledge”
“Verbalize knowledge”
“Externalize knowledge”
“Internalize knowledge”
KNOWLEDGE AS STUFF
Knowledge as organism
“Growing knowledge”
“Nurturing knowledge”
“Knowledge develops”
Knowledge as organism
“Growing knowledge”
“Nurturing knowledge”
“Knowledge develops”
Knowledge as capital
“Value knowledge”
“Invest knowledge”
Knowledge as capital
“Value knowledge”
“Invest knowledge”
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Knowledge as Resource metaphor
What the metaphor hides What the metaphor highlights
What is not used
• Non-rivalry of knowledge• Non-additiveness of
knowledge• Tacitness of knowledge
• Use in production• Adding to• Storing• Sharing knowledge• Amount of knowledge• Place in input/output
(logistical) system
• Location• Size• Weight• Other physical
characteristics
Target Domain
Source Domain
RESOURCE
Knowledge becomes part of logistic discourse
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Knowledge as Assets metaphor
What the metaphor hides What the metaphor highlights
What is not used
• Non-rivalry of knowledge• Non-additiveness of
knowledge• Tacitness of knowledge
• Controlled by enterprise• Generate future
economic benefits that flow to enterprise
• Identifiable and cost can be measured
• Use in production• Place in reporting
system
• Location• Size• Weight• Other physical
characteristics
Target Domain
Source DomainASSETS
Knowledge becomespart of accounting discourse
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Knowledge as Property metaphor
What the metaphor hides What the metaphor highlights
What is not used
• People can not be owned
• Tacitness of knowledge• Purposeness of
knowledge
• Ownership• Value• Exclusiveness• Legal rights• Transferability• Ability to commercialize• Place in legal system
• Location• Other physical
characteristics of property
Target Domain
Source Domain
PROPERTY
Knowledge becomes part of legal discourse
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There are big differences between the authors
Davenport & PrusakDavenport & Prusak (2000) (2000) Nonaka & TakeuchiNonaka & Takeuchi (1995) (1995)
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Transformation of entailments require argumentation
• Capital is valuable and important
• Capital is an asset for the future and not an expenditure
• Capital can be invested in
• Capital can be capitalized
• Capital itself can be invested
• Capital allows for a return
• Capital resonates with managers and CFO’s
• Having more capital is better
• Capital can be owned
• Capital can be valued financially
• Capital often appears on the balance sheet
• Capital is additive (1+1=2)
• Capital is a stock
• Capital can and must be measured and managed
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
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What is wrong with KNOWLEDGE AS STUFF
Knowledge as an object
“Locate knowledge”
“Recognize knowledge”
“Move knowledge”
“Exchange knowledge”
Knowledge as an object
“Locate knowledge”
“Recognize knowledge”
“Move knowledge”
“Exchange knowledge”
Knowledge as a resource
“Gather knowledge”
“Store knowledge”
“Distribute knowledge”
Knowledge as a resource
“Gather knowledge”
“Store knowledge”
“Distribute knowledge”
KNOWLEDGE AS STUFF
Knowledge as capital
“Value knowledge”
“Invest knowledge”
Knowledge as capital
“Value knowledge”
“Invest knowledge”
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Western and Eastern views on knowledge
Dominant view in the West
• Knowledge as a thing that can be controlled and manipulated
• Knowledge as information that can be codified, stored, accessed and used
• Knowledge as resource that can be created, stored, shared, located, or moved, and that is part of the input-throughput-output system of the organization
• Knowledge as capital that can be valued, capitalized and measured; that is part of the financial flow and requires an return on investment
Dominant view in the East
• Knowledge as spirit and wisdom
• Knowledge as unfolding truth
• Unity of universe and human self
• Unity of knowledge and action
• Knowledge as illumination or enlightenment of an underlying, deeper reality
• Knowledge as essence-less and nothingness (Japan)
• Knowledge creation as a continuous, self-transcending process
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Employees
Metaphor 1
Gathering results
Diagnosis and development of
solutions
Working in teams of 4 plenary session
Metaphor 2
Gathering results
Diagnosis and development of
solutions
Working in teams of 4 plenary session
Vote(2 votes per
person)
QuestionnairePersonal reflection
Managers
Metaphor 1
Gathering results
Diagnosis and development of
solutions
Working in teams of 4 plenary session
Metaphor 2
Gathering results
Diagnosis and development of
solutions
Working in teams of 4 plenary session
Vote(2 votes per
person)
QuestionnairePersonal reflection
Design of the exercise
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KNOWLEDGE AS WATER
DIAGNOSIS
• Knowledge does not flow
• Separate source of knowledge
• Knowledge is not channeled
• No dispersion of knowledge
• Hydrocephalus: people keeping knowledge to themselves
SOLUTIONS
• Build canals
• Flush out and freshen knowledge
• Tap knowledge from people leaving
• Create knowledge map
• Managers as knowledge channels
• Knowledge management
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KNOWLEDGE AS LOVE
DIAGNOSIS
• Knowledge is not cherished
• Lack of trust
• Unrequited love
• Rivalry and forced marriages
• Attractive but lonely singles
• In-breeding
• We only talk about our wedding certificate but not about our relationship
SOLUTIONS
• Provide time and space for sharing knowledge
• Match people’s passions and tasks
• Go out and date more
• Hire marriage counselor
• Partner-swapping
• Don’t manage and systemize knowledge
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Intermezzo 2: problems don't exist
• Problems are not phenomena waiting out there in reality to be observed.
• A problem is a gap between an existing and a preferred situation (Ist and Soll).
• Both the perception of the existing as the perception of the preferred situation depends on how you prefer to look at it
• Ergo, a problem is by definition subjective.
• "a problem is an interpretation of a feeling of discomfort“ (J. Kessels)
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KM Metaphor Analysis Scoring Form
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WWhat would hat would be be the outcome the outcome of your research if we see of your research if we see
knowledge not at stuff but as knowledge not at stuff but as love? love?
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Thank You!
• Dr. Daniel Andriessen
• Professor of Intellectual CapitalINHOLLAND University of Professional Education
• Amsterdam/ Diemen The Netherlands
• www.weightlesswealth.com
• +31-204951719
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