Management and Knowledge Management Book Reviews
by Dr. Moria Levy

“The Long Tail”,  a concept borrowed from statistical mathematics and renowned as a cornerstone of WEB2.0, is explored primarily in terms of economics and business in the book. Originating as an extension of an article by the author Chris Anderson on the Internet, the book has gained recognition as one of the most downloaded articles online. The book has received numerous congratulations and compliments, featuring endorsements on the cover from notable figures such as the CEOs of Yahoo! and...

I have delved into numerous books on knowledge management, categorizing them broadly into works by Key Thinkers who shape the discourse on knowledge management and works by Knowledge Doers—consultants or managers directly involved in implementing knowledge management in organizations, with a strong focus on practical applications. I choose my words carefully; Key Thinkers also perform, and Doers also think, yet the distinction is evident. Carl Frappaolo's "Knowledge Management," published in...

"Naked Conversations" explores the realm of blogs, primarily focusing on non-organizational blogs that contribute to businesses in the Internet world. Authors Robert Scoble and Shel Israel, both avid bloggers, bring a subjective perspective to the book. While they attempt objectivity, the inherent bias is evident. Nevertheless, the book offers a fresh understanding of the blogging world, sharing numerous blog stories that convey blogs' familiarity, significance, and potential impact. Despite...

Upon learning about the release of Nonaka and Ichijo's new book, I couldn't resist delving into its contents. Nonaka, undoubtedly one of the pioneers in knowledge management, co-authored "The Knowledge-Creating Company" with Takeuchi, a renowned work in the field. In the realm of knowledge management, where methodologies continually evolve and technological advancements enable capabilities that were unimaginable a decade ago, the significance of such a book, primarily authored by such...

"Leadership on the Line" is a book by Lynskey and Heifetz, which has garnered considerable acclaim. Early readers, including Eli Horowitz, Chairman of Teva's Board of Directors, President Emeritus of Harvard University, and Lt. Gen. Lipkin Shahak, have offered recommendations that render ours superfluous. You might wonder about the relevance of leadership and knowledge management. Why have we included this book on the knowledge management bookshelf and presented it to you? The answer is...

It would be the epitome of popular science if one encapsulates the greatness of the book "Links," originally titled "Linked," in a single phrase. In a positive sense, this work by a physicist delves into a scientific subject rooted in mathematics and reaches across diverse scientific realms. The author articulates these concepts in clear, fluent language, presenting simple, everyday examples and more intricate ones. The use of language facilitates reader comprehension, making it easier for us...

” Communities of Practice ” explores learning and knowledge from the perspective of a researcher and consultant in learning social systems. Wegner, a globetrotting consultant, imparts lectures and applies his teachings worldwide to the current writing. Wenger is concluding a visit to Moldova and plans to be in Sydney next month. He is truly a peripatetic consultant with a broad perspective. The concept of the "experience community" (the term we will use to describe Communities of Practice in...

Do you know those things that seem trivial but only become apparent in hindsight? "The Knowing-Doing Gap" is one such book. It delves into a problem closely linked to knowledge management but serves as its complement: How is it that numerous organizations possess all the correct answers yet still commit numerous mistakes, occasionally bordering on nonsense? Why do many managers, having attended advanced management workshops and enlisted consultants who provided sound ideas, persist in...

Leonard and Snap's book, published by Harvard Business School Press in 2005, is a relatively recent publication. The book delves into a critical issue for organizational managers and individuals: how to foster and convey internal organizational wisdom. It explores the progression from cultivating beginners to experienced individuals, experimenters to the understanding, understanding to experts, and experts to those profoundly insightful. This individual possesses vast knowledge and can adapt...

I've reviewed numerous books on knowledge management and its fundamentals, and unquestionably, "If Only We Knew What We Know," written by O'Dell and Grayson, the CEO and founder of APQC – an American nonprofit quality organization, stands out as a highly recommended read. This book delves into knowledge management by emphasizing the sharing of existing organizational knowledge, distinguishing itself from other works, such as Nonaka's, which focus on generating new knowledge. Despite its 1998...

Undoubtedly, "The Knowledge-Creating Company," authored by Nonaka and Takeuchi in 1995, is a seminal work in knowledge management. Delving into Japanese culture, the book elucidates, through a knowledge-centric lens, how Japanese companies excel in innovating and achieving success by fostering a culture of knowledge sharing. Fast forward five years to 2000, and Nonaka, in collaboration with Von-Krogh and Ichijo, authors a sequel titled "Enabling Knowledge Creation." This relatively...

" Working Knowledge ," authored by the globally renowned leaders in knowledge management, Larry Prusak and Thomas Davenport, was initially published in 1998, followed by a soft edition in 2000 that incorporated an introduction. In a concise statement, it is a classic in knowledge management, representing a pioneering contribution to the field by addressing work methodologies for various stages of the knowledge life cycle. While distinct from a case study, the book offers numerous examples....