Managing context in enterprise knowledge processes

Because competitive advantage accrues to those enterprises that effectively manage their 'knowledge', researchers are seeking a viable organizational epistemology. This paper addresses one epistemological challenge - the slippery but critical notion of 'context' - by presenting and substantiating four claims. First, as 'that which imparts meaning', context is inherently important to epistemological enquiry generally and enterprise knowledge processes specifically. Second, context is a key issue in three areas of current enterprise (re-) engineering and 'organizational learning' research: (a) systemic theories; (b) knowledge acquisition tools; and (c) conversation management. Third, a systemic perspective requires redefining context as a process (contexture) embedded in a system's intrinsic operational 'situatedness'. Finally, this shift of perspective can be practically implemented through innovative enterprise knowledge acquisition procedures. One such innovative procedure (nichepicking) is illustrated by a case study.