Using essential processes in knowledge integration for knowledge enhancement

Abstract

Purpose – This paper aims to study the significant role of knowledge integration, which has a considerable influence on the growth of civilisation and modernisation. It identifies the essential processes in knowledge integration for establishing common understanding, thus enabling long-term sustainability in a dynamic environment that requires continuous adaptability. By understanding the essential processes of knowledge integration, the timely creation of new knowledge is ensured as a solution for critical problems; thus enhancing past and present knowledge. Design/methodology/approach – The paper undertakes a comparative analysis of research in the literature on knowledge integration and derives the essential processes in knowledge integration from existing theories. Findings – Generally, there are various interpretations of knowledge integration that complicate the understanding and implementation of knowledge integration in many organisations. This study extracts the implicit nature of knowledge integration by explicitly proposing its essential processes, namely: identification, creation, assimilation and evaluationto identify the core elements necessary for any initiative in knowledge integration. Research limitations/implications – A number of barriers and dependencies exist in knowledge integration. These are categorised as individual, structural and ontological factors. Practical implications – The utilisation of the essential processes of knowledge integration increases the speed of knowledge creation through the elimination of redundant conventional processes. This indirectly establishes a generic form of knowledge integration, allowing effective communication among knowledge practitioners. Originality/value – The paper’s originality lies in the explicit proposal of the essential processes of knowledge integration, referred to as identification, creation, assimilation and evaluation. Furthermore, this paper highlights the potential of essential processes to act as an ontology that can bridge the real and virtual world of knowledge integration implementation through a generic understanding of the knowledge integration concept among practitioners.