IKML approach to integrating knowledge management and learning for software project management

Abstract

The problem of learning in software project management (SPM) is attributed to the complex nature of related processes that entail both practical and theoretical knowledge. Practical learning is addressed in knowledge management (KM), while theoretical learning is debated in education. In this article, an integrated approach to KM and learning (IKML) that exploits the advantages of both KM and educational approaches is introduced to contribute to effective learning in SPM. The study first tailors the socialization, externalisation, combination, internalisation (SECI) model of KM and subsequently integrates a learning-based model into it. This article presents a conceptual framework actualising the IKML approach. Next, a hypermodel based on the conceptual framework is built and empirically evaluated to obtain evidence for its effectiveness in an individual setting. To this end, a controlled experiment is conducted that demonstrates a statistically significant change in the means of experimental groups regarding learning effect gain.