A knowledge integration mechanism based on systems thinking in knowledge-intensive organizations

In the new century, knowledge plays crucial roles in knowledge-intensive organizations. Both explicit knowledge and tacit knowledge are the most important factors which make the success of organizations. Therefore, knowledge management and knowledge integration mechanisms are the key mechanisms to make the organization more effective and efficient. However, little research on knowledge-intensive organizations has focused specifically on systems thinking issues. This paper aims to consider such issues. Starting from the definitions of knowledge-intensive organizations and knowledge integration, this study investigates the relationship between uncertainty, knowledge complexity and systems thinking. The relationships are analyzed in the realm of knowledge-intensive organizations' teams where it is particularly critical due to the double coordination, individual exchange and sharing, especially knowledge integration role played by systems thinking, A field research conducted in three project teams of an organization supports the relevance of knowledge complexity in explaining the variation of management of systems thinking.