Abstract

The appointment of a Chief Knowledge Officer (CKO) is recognized not only as a key success factor in knowledge management (KM) practices but also as an essential element for future corporate success. This study uses the interpretive philosophical perspective to understand CKOs’ subjective views regarding their professional identity (PI). The triangulation method was adopted, according to the methodological framework of the grounded theory. We found that participants experience structured conflict and disharmony in their PI, struggling to present their professional selves to the social environment. These difficulties are mainly affected by the multitude of nicknames given to the CKO’s position, considerable variation in training, and differences in the hierarchical position between organizations. The results imply a lack of sufficient awareness about the KM discipline. This paper enriches the empirical knowledge regarding significant difficulties faced by CKOs and provides a more nuanced picture of the PI concept.

https://doi.org/10.1080/14778238.2024.2431114

Nakash, M. (2024). “A profession that is a story”: blurred professional identity of CKO’s. Knowledge Management Research & Practice, 1-11.‏