The data, information, and knowledge hierarchy and its ability to convince

This paper explores the curious domination of the data-information-knowledge hierarchical model in the knowledge management context. Knowledge management is about a cluster of activities that take place in organizations aimed at better decision-making and organizational processes. Why would a model of key terms derived from information theory be dominant in an organizationally defined activity? We trace the history of this dominant model, show why it is not the appropriate approach to the core issues of knowledge management and then consider possible explanations as to why it became dominant in order to be able to frame future empirical research among practitioners.