**4. Managerial and sociotechnical approach of knowledge management**

Relying on the three postulates mentioned in Subsection 3.5, it appears that Knowledge Management addresses activities, which utilize and create knowledge more than knowledge itself. With regard to this question, since 2001, our group of research6 has adopted a Managerial and Sociotechnical approach based on a knowledge constructivist point of view.

### **4.1 Sociotechnical approach of organization**

The sociotechnical approach of organization is to consider the organization as a system consisting of a social system interacting with a technical system. The following reflections are essentially based on the book "Knowledge Management in the Sociotechnical World." In this book, Elayne Coakes [15] states that the term "sociotechnical" is commonly used in systems studies, particularly in the design of organizations. Based on numerous writings, some dating back to 1920, she says that the best incarnation of this paradigm is found in the work of Fred Emery and Eric Trist at the Tavistock Institute, London, and in the study of Trist and Bamford (1951) in which the researchers identified the need for a sociotechnical approach to develop a social system appropriate for the establishment of a new technical system. Elayne Coakes defines the term "Sociotechnical" as "*The study of the relationships and interrelationships between the social and technical parts of any system.*" (p. 5) Thus, this term describes a broader view of the role of technology in an organization: "*technology should be considered, discussed and developed not only as a technical artifact but in the light of the social environment in which it is exploited.*" (p. 4). She suggests that "*Knowledge management from a sociotechnical perspective requires managing the organization through continuous change and a continuous learning process supported by appropriate technologies."* (p. 10).

In addition, Kenneth C. Laudon and Jane P. Laudon [16] consider that "*adopting a socio-technical perspective avoids a purely technological approach to information systems*" (p. 27).

Opposing the technological approach to the managerial and sociotechnical approach will not be representative of a reality that is much more complex. They are not necessarily exclusive. If the technological approach is to be regarded as essentially based on information, communication, and artificial intelligence technologies, the fact that these technologies are primarily used to manage the organization must also be taken into account.

### **4.2 Definition of knowledge management**

Within our group of research, we define Knowledge Management as follows [17]: "*Knowledge Management is the management of the activities and the processes that enhance the utilization and the creation of knowledge within an organization, according to two strongly interlinked goals, and their underlying economic and strategic dimensions, organization dimensions, socio-cultural dimensions, and technological dimensions: (1) a patrimony goal, and (2) a sustainable innovation goal.*" (p. 980). The patrimony goal is a static goal. It is involved with the preservation of knowledge, their reuse, and their actualization. The sustainable innovation goal is more dynamic. It is involved with creation and integration of knowledge at the organizational level.

Our definition of Knowledge Management highlights the economic and strategic dimension of Knowledge Management. She is focused on managerial and

<sup>6</sup> SIGECAD Research Group created in 1998, which domain topics are Information System, Knowledge Management and Decision Aid.

organizational problems linked to sociotechnical environment and organization's value-added processes. She leads to integrate the whole dimensions that should be involved in the Knowledge-Based Management within Organizations [2].
