Deploying internal knowledge portals: Three major challenges

Abstract

Knowledge portals (KPs) are highly integrative knowledge management systems (KMSs) that promise to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the use of organizational knowledge. KPs have the potential to stimulate the processes of knowledge management and knowledge integration; improve communication and collaboration; and to increase the competitiveness of the firm. However, KPs face major challenges in practice, and many KP implementation efforts fail. This paper provides an extensive review of current information system (IS) research on KPs. It focuses on internal KPs and suggests that there are three major deployment challenges: (1) sufficient participation, (2) a favorable organizational culture, and (3) knowledge integration.