The fourth perspective-knowledge management in human resources context

The aim of this study is to enlighten the use of knowledge management in Finnish companies in HR context. The study is based on a survey conducted in autumn 2002. The target group was the TOP 50 Finnish companies. It was assumed that every Finnish TOP 50 company uses knowledge management in some extent. Earlier there has been only case studies, thus there is need for this study. Contributions of this study are firstly to describe the history and the current state of knowledge management in Finnish TOP 50 companies. Secondly, to see what are the rationales of using knowledge management. By surveying only the HR personnel the actual state-of-the-practice in KM is hardly revealed, as there are also other perspectives such as IT and handling documents. The delineation of this study is challenging in some extend, as it considers the largest and therefore the most well-resourced companies. Though, one might suggest those are the most interesting ones. As a conclusion this study discusses the use of knowledge management as part of balanced performance measurement by setting frame for the use of the “fourth perspective”.