Title: Learning organisations and knowledge management - people and technology: the challenges of the information era

Authors: Angela Lacerda Nobre

Addresses: Escola Superior de Ciencias Empresariais do Instituto Politecnico de Setubal, Rua Tomas da Anunciacao, 41-3, 1350-322 Lisboa, Portugal

Abstract: The objective of this article is to analyse the role of human resources development and information and communication technology in the process of organisational innovation. This innovation process is contextualised within the current framework of the knowledge society [1] of the information age [2]. The importance of taking into account the human information system before deciding upon a technology solution is highlighted as a critical factor in the development and evolution of organisations [3,4]. In this context, the semiotics model which considers the organisation, any organisation, as an information system, is particularly relevant [5,6]. Team work, together with information technology [7], are a mainstay bet of all new forms of organisation that have to deal with the new global competitive environment. Finally, a dialectic approach to organisations [8] is developed in order to take into consideration the conflicts, controversies and contradictions inherent in the complexity of human environments.

Keywords: knowledge management; human resource development; learning organisations; competitive advantage; organisational innovation; new organisational forms.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRDM.2002.001020

International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, 2002 Vol.2 No.1/2, pp.113-128

Published online: 18 Aug 2003 *

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