Is organizational learning being absorbed by knowledge management? A systematic review

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to focus on research regarding organizational learning (OL) and knowledge management (KM), and to specifically investigate whether OL has been conceptually absorbed by KM. Design/methodology/approach This study is based on 16,185 articles from the Scopus and ISI Web of Science databases, using VantagePoint 10.0 software. The method used in this study is a systematic literature review covering KM and OL publications from the 1970s, when the OL field started to grow, up to 2016. Findings Nuclear processes of OL, creation and acquisition of knowledge, have been conceptually absorbed by KM literature in the past years. Research limitations/implications Only two databases have been considered, Scopus and ISI Web of Science, because of their academic prestige. However, these databases include a large number of articles on KM and OL. Search terms used could exclude some relevant terms, although all major descriptive terms have been included. Practical implications This paper identifies thematic clusters in KM and OL, evolution of both fields, most cited authors and representative journals by topic. Originality/value This is the first paper to jointly analyse the evolution of KM and OL. This paper shows a conceptual absorption of OL into KM, which may enrich academic discussion and also provide some clarity to the conceptualization of these two fields.