A cluster analysis of the KM field

The main purpose of this study is to review the knowledge management literature from a content‐related perspective using cluster analysis.

A critical analysis of previous review articles in KM provided a conceptual framework with nine dimensions. A survey was then administered to 120 KM authors asking them to review which dimensions they considered in their own research.

Three clusters of KM research were identified as follows: the socialization school, the collaboration school, and the codification school.

The study does not consider the dimension of strategic versus operational KM issues nor does it consider any non‐Anglophonic research.

The three identified clusters accrued from the review provide both scholars and practitioners with a more holistic perspective and better understanding of the main thrusts of their KM initiatives.

The research is the first systematic and comprehensive review of KM that provides a cluster analysis approach.