Knowledge Management is the explicit management of vital knowledge and information possessed by individuals so that it is effectively shared and used by others in the organisation (business intelligence).

The primary function of a Knowledge Management System should be to make information available to authorised users. However, implementing a simple information management, document indexing and retrieval system is only the beginning. Capturing corporate knowledge involves more than software and technology, it requires a strong document management software and cultural transformation of how information is generated, processed, stored, distributed and turned into innovation.

Choosing the right Knowledge Management System that provides tools in every step of the corporate knowledge generation, capture and distribution is important.

Knowledge Management is a process that has to have wide support and sponsorship within an organisation to succeed. A case for a full commitment must be made. As a starting point a strong and proven technology platform should be deployed. Corporate knowledge should be documented by knowledge managers and organisational knowledge should be made accessible using information technologies. The strategy and ultimate target should be to become a "Learning Organisation".

• Promotes sharing and collaboration of corporate knowledge and intellectual assets
• Provides easy access to fresh and timely content
• Has a notification mechanism that alerts knowledge workers to new and edited documents
• Has robust tools to search and retrieve existing information and knowledge so that this information can be reused and not regenerated
• Has Classification and Categorisation of information for easy access and retrieval
• Has Meta Data Definitions so that documents and information can be accessed quickly based on consistent corporate criteria
• Has Templates to create information so that all information reflects the familiar corporate standards
• Has Knowledge Management Portals to distribute timely content
• Has an effective Notification system that creates an informed community of users
• Has an environment that supports and allows a community of users to contribute information and knowledge.