The role of knowledge management in the space industry: important or superfluous?

Abstract

Purpose

This article aims to describe the importance of knowledge management (KM) to the space industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing from a range of literature published in the academic and industry arenas, also including articles published in this special issue. The authors also apply their personal experience and practical knowledge.

Findings

Implementations in KM within aerospace organizations and space industry have grown beyond mere technology thrusts, and now include aspects of culture, people, and process. These more sophisticated KM tasks build on technology and information to help guide organizations through the intricacies of working with international teams and making ever‐more‐complex decisions.

Practical implications

All organizations make mistakes; an important factor for recovering from these errors and avoiding the repetition of these problems is the implementation of a knowledge management system (KMS).

Originality/value

Most general KM articles discuss KM from the technology thrusts; this article describes how the implementation in KMS within space organizations has grown beyond mere technology thrusts and now includes aspects of culture, people, and process.

Citation

Olla, P. and Holm, J. (2006), "The role of knowledge management in the space industry: important or superfluous?", Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 10 No. 2, pp. 3-7. https://doi.org/10.1108/13673270610656584