ROLE OF INTERNET IN KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT PJAEE, 17(6) (2020)

ROLE OF INTERNET IN KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

Dr. S. M. Abbas1
Documentation Officer
MMAJ-Academy of International Studies
Jamia Millia Islamia -New Delhi

Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Sharma2

Librarian
Rajdhani College
(University of Delhi)
New Delhi

Dr. S. M. Abbas, Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Sharma : Role of Internet in Knowledge Management-
-Palarch’s Journal of Archaeology Of Egypt/Egyptology 17(6). ISSN 1567-214x

Abstract:
Internet plays an important role globally. It works on the basis of standard protocols. With the
evolution of web 4.0, a paradigm shift has been observed in applying the technologies
especially internet, which allows to access large number of content pages of our need.
Knowledge sharing, transferring, transmitting has become very easy in organizations. This is
possible through the use of internet by which a large number of files transfer within moment.
Internet also plays a key role for managing knowledge in organizations.
1. INTRODUCTION
Internet: Internet plays an important role in the life of the people globally. A number of
networks link together. It works on the basis of standard protocols. Through it use, people are
accessing different types of information, which was not open to access earlier. Users of internet
are increasing within the moment. The number of user accelerates to 4.39 billion in 2019. The
numbers of users are growing every year. It has emerged a most powerful tool of
communication. With the introduction of Web 4.0, a paradigm shift has been observed in
applying the technologies especially internet, which allows to access largest content pages of
our need. Knowledge sharing, transferring, transmitting has become very easy in organizations.
This is possible through use of internet. World has become a global village due to internet in
this era. Internet plays an important role in providing connectivity to world through its
networks. From home to banks, hospitals, government offices, post offices, police stations,
courts, lawyers, and medical professionals, shops, educational institutions like schools,

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colleges and universities are making use of internet 24/7. It has become a necessity of today's
world. No development takes place without the use of internet. There is use of internet in most
of the activities in this age.
2. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
Knowledge Management is important topic now-a-days. It has its roots in ancient history. The
term Knowledge Management may be the new one, but it has been practiced through the ages.
Librarianship was, by and large, a programmed activity, which could be efficiently carried out
with moderate intelligence and knowledge. Librarianship was simple and users had no choice
but had to be contents with libraries and their products, which were more or less identical.
Knowledge Management is to improve the use of organizational knowledge through sound
practices of information management and organizational learning. It is not merely the task of
managing or organizing books and journals, searching information using ICTs arranging for
circulation of material. Librarianship was simple and users had no choice but had to be contents
with libraries and their products, which were more or less identical. Knowledge Management
is to improve the use of organizational knowledge through sound practices of information
management and organizational learning. It is not merely the task of managing or organizing
books and journals, searching information using ICTs arranging for circulation of materials.
However, each of these activities is part of the knowledge management and process. It connects
individuals with the knowledge that they need to take action, when they need it.
Knowledge is different from information. Information is data arrange in a meaningful pattern.
Knowledge on the other hand, is the processed information. There is no doubt that the
knowledge is some sort of information combined with experience context, interpretation and
reflection. Unlike information knowledge is embedded in the minds of human beings.
However, it is also true that all information is not knowledge and at the same time all
knowledge is not available. It is therefore a challenge for knowledge management workers to
determine what information within an organization counts as “worthwhile valuable knowledge
“within a vast sea of information. It is directly linked to what, when and how people can support
business and organizational objectives. It draws on human competency, institution, ideas and
motivations but not a technology – based concept. Although technology supports knowledge
management.
Knowledge originates and resides in people’s mind and is applied to the minds of the knower.
It is the people who can interpret environmental data information into valuable knowledge for
personal and organizational use. Knowledge is used to produce decisions and finally action. It
is highly contextual and depends to a large extent not only on the skills and experiences, but
also on values and belief of individuals. Besides the work culture and organizational socio-
economic climate. Any organizations can develop knowledge either through acquiring
knowledge or through internal development.
Knowledge management is orderly, goal- directed but ever changing. It is in extricable tied to
strategic objectives of organization. It uses only the information that is the most meaningful,
practical and purposeful. As such there is no universal definition of knowledge management
and also there is no agreement on what constitutes knowledge. Knowledge is constantly tested

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updated revised and sometimes even” obsolete” when it is no longer practicable. It is a fluid,
organizing process. In the broadest sense knowledge management is the process through which
organizations generate value from their scholarly and knowledge based assets. It is the practice
of harnessing and exploiting intellectual capital to gain reasonable benefit and consumer
commitment through effectively innovation, quicker and more efficient decision making.
Knowledge management is not only a process of creating / transferring knowledge but it also
adds value to the available information. It is a continuous process and not one-time activity.
Knowledge management is not an off the shelf –software product. It is neither a data base nor
a toll for organizing or processing data or management technology. It is an asset which can be
used for creating customer value, operational excellence and product innovation that increases
profits and effectiveness of any organization.
Knowledge Management is a term that has worked its way into the main stream of both
academic and business areas since it was first coined in the 1980’s. The current state of the
knowledge management and compasses for overlapping areas:
a) Managing Organization (Reading, Sharing, retaining, storing, using, updating and
retrieving);
b) Organizational Learning;
c) Intellectual Learning; and
d) Knowledge Economics.
This means that there is considerable opportunity for librarians to use their traditional skills to
assume a new function of managing knowledge within the library which would complement
the traditional library services function. The aim of knowledge management for library is to
become more competitive through the capacities of their staff and clients to be more flexible
and innovative.
2.1Types of Knowledge
i. Tacit Knowledge: It is knowledge that people carry in their minds and is therefore difficult
to access, articulate or describe. It is the knowledge, which is usually transferred by
demonstration rather than description. Often, people are not aware of the knowledge they
possess or how it can be valuable to others. Tacit knowledge is considered more important
because it provides context for people, places, ideas and experiences. Effective transmission of
tacit knowledge generally requires wide personal contact and trust. Tacit knowledge is not
easily shared. It is highly invisible and resides in the minds of the individuals. Skills, value,
judgment, contact sensitivity etc. are some examples of the tacit knowledge. It can make the
organization more innovative and productive.
ii. Explicit Knowledge: Knowledge that is easy to communicate is called explicit knowledge.
The process of transmuting tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge is known as articulation.
It is the format knowledge that can be packaged as content information, formula, standards,
patents, articles; manuals etc. are all the sources of explicit knowledge. It is also easy to transfer
between individuals and the organization. The tacit aspects of knowledge are those that cannot
be phrased but can be transmitted only via training or gained through personal experience.
Alternatively, tacit knowledge can be understood to be knowledge that is embedded in a culture

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(for instance a regional, culture, organizational culture or social culture) and is difficult to share
with people not embedded in the cultural organization world over are devising ways and means
to extract the tacit knowledge of the workers and motivate them to share that with others. They
are endeavoring to turn this process into a self-generating system that does not sputter out. If it
works knowledge can spawn creatively innovation and improved performance within the work
place. Knowledge management initiatives are taken by organization and learners of the
worldwide which reveal how these companies create value from their intangible assets.
2.2 knowledge management initiatives
These are three types of knowledge management initiatives.
i. External Structure Initiatives: Information gaining and knowledge from customers for
example through Net cape, USA a close link via the net for opinion leaders among clients, who
are motivated to report problems, enables it is to create new generations of software at a faster
pace.
ii. Internal Structure Initiatives: Building knowledge, sharing culture should be done. There
are organizations in USA that balance between creativity and conversation.
iii. Competence Initiatives: Creation of careers based on knowledge management is another
way for example: IBM, USA and most Japanese large companies encourage dual careers.
Personnel are motivated to switch between professional and managerial jobs, in order to gain
complete knowledge about the company. There are six attributes must be considered in to
knowledge management practices as follows:
• Subjectivity: Context and individual background shape the interpretation of knowledge.
• Transferability: Knowledge can be extracted and transferred to other-to-other-to-another
context.
• Embeddedness: Knowledge is often in a static buried from that makes it difficult to extract
or formulate.
• Self-Reinforcement: The value of knowledge increases and not decreases when shared.
• Perishability: Knowledge can easily become outdated.
• Spontaneity: Knowledge can develop unpredictably in a process organization must instill
a sense of caring for knowledge so that it becomes part of everyday life rather than
something which ebbs and flows as the mood suits.
3. INTERNET AS KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT TOOL
The internet and knowledge management are not new concepts. Knowledge management and
the sharing of the knowledge can help libraries with the improvement of the quality of their
service as well as the creation and maintenance of a learning culture. In the present scenario
internet has emerged as adynamic way of transferring and sharing the information and
knowledge by any organizations. Many organizations have realized that an internet can
empower their employees. It can also boost the organizations competitive advantage, improve
employee’s moral and improve communication among clients and suppliers. Through internet

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organizations are able to provide different ways to manage and transfer data, information and
knowledge. A literature review indicates that research has been done on a utilization of an
internet as a knowledge management tool for examples, Law firms and the business
environment discipline that supports a cohesive approach to identifying, storing, evaluating,
retrieving and providing all the information assets of an organization. The main advantages
include the following.
• Improved Service: The use of an internet improves the way in which services are rendered.
In an organization knowledge shares with supervisor, subordinate and peers, if there is a
scope of improvement that can be improved by using internet. Improved knowledge can be
shared with the customers also.
• Faster Speed: Through internet with Web 4.0, networks are working fast; knowledge can
be accessed, retrieved and shared easily and quickly. Organizations take the quick decision
on their products. As the organizations work with the heavy bandwidth, their internet
connectivity is available with faster speed. It helps organizations to work speedy.
• Ease of use for accessing and publishing information: It is easy to publish one’s research
by placing it on internet so that others can access it.
• Simplicity in creation and maintenance: An internet can be created and maintained with
a minimum of programming expertise. Once the basic shell is in place, support staff at a
specific department can easily make most updates to information.
• Keep up with the workforce: As more and more young employees enter the workforce,
keeping up with new technology will become increasingly important. Employees with new
technology will become increasingly important. Employees will become less willing to
receive training information through slides or printouts because they are used to being
intellectually stimulated through electronic media. Employees can use the internet to learn
from one another.
• User friendly Interface: An internet application typically uses an interface that is
conductive to point and click navigation. Employees access different sources on internet and
get information easily of their choices in a organizations or among the organizations.
Knowledge is managed and share through its use by using different tools.
• Centralization: Employees can access information from a central database at any time and
in any number of geographical locations. Knowledge generated by a organizations is shared
with the superiors, subordinates and peers. Organizations also share of different products to
customers of the organizations and get feedback from target group.
• Flexibility: An internet provides one access point to the organizations database and allows
a remote worker to access the knowledge available as if she is in his/ her own office. In an
organization, knowledge can be shared from any remote areas or any part of the world.
• Accuracy: Information and data are as accurate as supplied by people and will not change
between requests. Users who are accessing information will always obtain the same and
accurate data. However, some information on different websites may not be accurate, but
knowledge shared by the big organizations seems to be accurate.
• Save Trees: The internet is a step closer to a paperless working environment, because the
more the internet progress the less paper will be used. In every areas, we are moving fast
towards e-environment like e-governance, e-resources etc. where we do not need papers.

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• Effectiveness and efficiency: - Review and evaluation of working is an important task to

be done by any organization on regular basis and this can be done by using internet. In
organizations, knowledge is shared, reviewed, evaluated and communicated by different
stages.
• Interactivity: The emergence of web development tools such as Java, Cloud and
shockwave have enhanced the scope of websites. One can create discussion groups,
comprehension tests and other two-way communication tools. Introduction of Web 4.0 also
put forward organizations to easily handle their knowledge, where a large data files are
easily transferred.
• Ease and Low cost for updates: With an internet one can easily and inexpensively updates
online publications. This can be done frequently as needed. The cost of maintenance of
internet and its use are not expensive, as knowledge or electronic data is transferred with the
click of mouse globally.
• Timelines: Depending on the use of the internet and bringing serious technical problems,
messages will be delivered on time. The transfer of knowledge from one organization to
another organization in any place of the world is easily possible within time. Internet does
not take much time for transferring, accessing or searching knowledge.
• Consistency: Any employee can view the same explicit knowledge. There is no need to
worry about several copies of outdates information circulating around the office. The
internet will always be available if the network is online. So, if used optimally, internet has
the capability to be a valuable knowledge management tool for facility communication and
knowledge sharing within organization such as academic libraries.

CONCLUSION: The success of knowledge management initiatives and information

professional depends upon developing good inter personal relation and rapport with the
business experts in the organization. Knowledge is the fundamental basis of competition.
Competing successfully on knowledge requires either aligning strategy to what the
organization knows, or developing the knowledge and capabilities needed to support a desired
strategy. The internet and knowledge management are not new concepts. Sharing and
managing knowledge are easily possible with the use of internet in and among the organizations
and libraries. Through this, libraries are also making best use and improve the quality of their
services as well as the creation and maintenance of a learning culture. Today internet has
appeared as one of the most dynamic and reliable way of transferring information and
knowledge in any organization. Many organizations have realized that an internet can empower
their employees. It can also boost the organizations competitive advantage, improve
employee’s moral and improve communication among clients and suppliers. Internet also
provides different ways to handle and transfer data, information and knowledge. Internet is a
knowledge management tool for examples, Law firms and the business environment discipline
that promotes an integrated approach to identifying, capturing, evaluating, retrieving and
sharing all the information assets of an organization. These activities have become regular in
organizations.

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