A framework for e‐learning as a tool for knowledge management

A common thread among the plethora of definitions of knowledge management is that its objective is to identify and leverage the collective knowledge in an organization to help organizations compete and survive. One potential lever is e‐learning, the creation and distribution of organizational knowledge through the online delivery of information, communication, education, and training. John Chambers, of Cisco Systems, said: “The two great equalizers in life are the Internet and education”, so why not fuse the two to provide an efficient way to empower a workforce with the skills and knowledge it needs to compete amid the rapid pace of change in business? In this paper we discuss the relationship between knowledge management and e‐learning and present a framework for employing e‐learning as a valuable tool for knowledge management. The framework encompasses the planning and implementation elements necessary for organizations to leverage existing technologies and implement new ones to promote organizational learning and contribute to the management of organizational knowledge.