Developing the core principles of responsible knowledge management (rKM): Series overview
This article is an overview of a series featuring my Master’s thesis The Emerging Concept of Responsible Knowledge Management (rKM): Identifying and Formulating the Core Principles of rKM.
This series, which is drawn from my Master’s thesis, examines the emerging concept of responsible knowledge management (rKM) by identifying its core principles, as discussed in academic literature. My research focuses particularly on the actions, practices, and concerns associated with ‘responsibility’ in the context of knowledge management (KM).
The findings show rKM as a new paradigm of KM that integrates ethical value frameworks, inclusivity, and a sustainable ecosystem view, reorienting value creation in organisations toward contributing to the common good.
My thesis applies an integrative literature review1 combined with grounded theory coding2 to analyse publications of the past 5 years, identifying, through close reading, recurring themes and concepts that shape the discourse on rKM.
The synthesis identifies three interdependent domains – normative frameworks3, inclusivity, and sustainable ecosystem view – whose convergence constitutes rKM. While the literature recognises the need for moral guidance, pluralism4, and long-term purpose, it often remains abstract and underdeveloped in terms of implementation. The contribution of this thesis lies in consolidating these dispersed insights, exposing contradictions, and providing a conceptual foundation for future research and practice.
The series concludes that rKM has the potential to provide a more responsible and future-oriented foundation for knowledge practices. It offers a framework for addressing the limitations of traditional KM while emphasising knowledge as a shared, ethical, and transformative practice.
Next part: Chapter 1 – Introduction.
Article source: Koskinen, H. M. (2025). The Emerging Concept of Responsible Knowledge Management (rKM): Identifying and Formulating the Core Principles of rKM. (Master’s Thesis, LUT University).
Header image source: Created by Hanna M. Koskinen using ChatGPT.
References and further reading:
- The University of Melbourne. (n.d.). Integrative Review. Which review is that? A guide to review types: A typology of literature reviews. ↩
- Belgrave, L., & Seide, K. (2019). Coding for grounded theory. In A. Bryant, K. Charmaz (Eds.) Coding for Grounded Theory (pp. 167-185). SAGE Publications Ltd. ↩
- Sustainability Directory. (n.d.). Normative Frameworks. Terms. ↩
- Cambridge Dictionary. ↩
