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The ’11 knows’ and a concept map of knowledge

What is the ‘knowledge’ that is managed in the field of ‘knowledge management’ (KM)? Just as the field of KM is far more diverse1 than many even in KM realize, there’s more to knowledge than you may currently know.

One of the best understandings of knowledge is Philip Sisson and Julie Ryan’s 2017 concept map of knowledge and its ’11 knows’2. The concept map was prepared using qualitative research methods to gather and document concepts, followed by the application of system engineering and object analysis methods to define and relate concepts.

The ’11 knows’ understood through this research and analysis are listed in Figure 1, and additional concepts also identified are shown in Figure 2. The concept map, Figure 3, then brings all of these concepts together.

The 11 knows.
Figure 1. The 11 knows. Source: Sisson & Ryan, 2017.
Additional terms.
Figure 2. Additional terms. Source: Sisson & Ryan, 2017.
Knowledge concept map.
Figure 3. Knowledge concept map. Source: Sisson & Ryan, 2017.

Acknowledgements: With thanks to David Williams on LinkedIn for bringing the paper summarized in this article to my attention.

Header image source: Adapted from DS Stories on Pexels.

References:

  1. Boyes, B. (2025, June 18). What is knowledge management (KM)? RealKM Magazine.
  2. Sisson, P., & Ryan, J. J. (2017). A Knowledge Concept Map: Structured Concept Analysis from Systematic Literature Review. Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Innovation, Special Issue: Knowledge Management – Current Trends and Challenges, 13(3), 29-69.

Bruce Boyes

Bruce Boyes is editor, lead writer, and a director of RealKM Magazine and winner of the International Knowledge Management Award 2025 (Individual Category). He is an experienced knowledge manager, environmental manager, project manager, communicator, and educator, and holds a Master of Environmental Management with Distinction and a Certificate of Technology (Electronics). His many career highlights include: establishing RealKM Magazine as an award-winning resource with more than 2,500 articles and 5 million reader views, leading the knowledge management (KM) community KM and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiative, using agile approaches to oversee the on time and under budget implementation of an award-winning $77.4 million recovery program for one of Australia's iconic river systems, leading a knowledge strategy process for Australia’s 56 natural resource management (NRM) regional organisations, pioneering collaborative learning and governance approaches to empower communities to sustainably manage landscapes and catchments in the face of complexity, being one of the first to join a new landmark aviation complexity initiative, initiating and teaching two new knowledge management subjects at Shanxi University in China, and writing numerous notable environmental strategies, reports, and other works.

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