Knowledge Reuse

Knowledge reuse is the process through which knowledge is captured, validated, stored, and retrieved. Through the reuse of knowledge, organizations may exploit internal capabilities and improve the effectiveness of their exploration activities (March, 1999). Knowledge reuse processes emphasize the centrality of knowledge within an organization by aligning information systems and communication technologies with human activity and organizational mechanisms, such as learning processes and organizational structures. The process of knowledge reuse can be systematic and planned; however, it can also be carried out in an informal manner through social networks and interpersonal ties (Newell, 2004). While knowledge reuse is explored from an entitative perspective, in which knowledge is generic, accessible, and codifiable, other views, such as social construction (Lave & Wenger, 1991), are also considered in this article. Furthermore, various contexts are considered in this article; however, the emphasis in this article is on knowledge reuse activities in product development and project management contexts. In this article, the concept of knowledge reuse will be explored. First, a review of recent discussions in the academic and practical literature will be presented. Following this, a discussion about the processes, contexts, mechanisms, and challenges involved in reusing knowledge will be developed. Lastly, future research in this area and conclusions will be offered.