Knowledge Management Research & Practice

Artificial Intelligence, Knowledge Management, and Value Creation: Inspiring new strategies and challenges

Knowledge Management (KM) has become a critical determinant of companies’ success in the digital era (Grant, R. M., 1996; Davenport & Prusak, 1998; Newell et al., 2009), focusing on the strategic use of learning mechanisms, knowledge assets and flows, to drive innovation and sustainable value creation (Nonaka, & Toyama, 2003; Kianto et al., 2017; Atanasova, 2024; Cegarra-Navarro et al., 2025). It enhances the management, distribution, and application of knowledge resources within companies (Crupi et al., 2021; Serenko & Bontis, 2017). Effective KM frameworks support knowledge-sharing, retention, and application which are vital for generating value (Chuang & Huang, 2018; Andreeva & Kianto, 2012; Barba-Aragón et al., 2023).

KM plays a pivotal role in knowledge-based value creation, enabling firms to improve innovation, optimize decision-making, and strengthen competitive advantage (Nonaka, & Toyama, 2003; Serenko & Bontis, 2017; Andreeva & Kianto, 2012; Cegarra-Navarro et al., 2025). Effective KM practices enhance the acquisition, codification, and dissemination of knowledge, ensuring that Intellectual Capital (IC) is transformed into actionable business intelligence (Nahapiet, & Ghoshal, 1998; Harrison & Sullivan, 2000; Chen et al., 2005; Subramaniam & Youndt, 2005; Bai et al., 2024). Furthermore, research indicates that firms combining IC and KM strategies—especially in conjunction with Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities—are better equipped for digital transformation and sustainable competitive performance (Haefner et al., 2021; José Lopes Gomes et al, 2024; Weritz et al., 2024; Davenport & Prusak, 2018).

The role of gender diversity in KM and corporate leadership is increasingly recognized for its influence on innovation and firm performance (Zhang et al., 2017; Schifilliti & La Rocca, 2024; Fasano et al., 2024; Tortorella et al., 2022; Terjesen, Sealy, & Singh, 2009). However, its impact remains complex, requiring further examination of how board diversity interacts with AI-driven knowledge systems to drive value creation and enhance decision-making processes (McGuirk et al., 2015; Malik et al., 2021).

AI has emerged as a transformative force in knowledge management systems, offering novel ways to capture, structure, and leverage knowledge to optimize IC (Russell & Norvig, 2020; Alghanemi et al., 2022; Gama & Magistretti, 2023). AI-driven tools such as machine learning, natural language processing, and intelligent knowledge networks facilitate knowledge discovery, retrieval, and automation, thereby enhancing organizational knowledge utilization (Russell & Norvig, 2020). These technologies also contribute to the development of intelligent knowledge repositories, enabling organizations to bridge human expertise with AI-driven insights for superior decision-making and innovation (Gama & Magistretti, 2023; Neiroukh et al., 2024).

Moreover, AI has revolutionized knowledge governance and organizational learning by enabling predictive analytics, personalized knowledge recommendations, and automated knowledge workflows (Russell & Norvig, 2020; Kaplan & Haenlein, 2019; Davenport, 2018). However, these advancements also pose challenges related to knowledge security, ethics, and the digital divide, necessitating organizations to develop responsible AI adoption frameworks (Kaplan & Haenlein, 2019; Davenport, 2018). Biases embedded in AI models can reinforce discrimination, marginalize underrepresented groups, and create accessibility barriers for individuals with disabilities, a community who continues to advocate for their rights (Villegas-Roca et al., 2025). Therefore, organizations must prioritize inclusive AI design and ethical safeguards to ensure that technological progress aligns with fundamental principles of fairness and social responsibility.

This special issue seeks to explore the intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Knowledge Management, and Value Creation across three primary research directions:

• AI-Driven Knowledge Management for Competitive Advantage – How can AI enhance knowledge-based value creation, intellectual capital utilization, and business agility? What are the implications for knowledge-sharing cultures and organizational learning?
• Transformation of Knowledge-Intensive Roles and Human Capital in the AI Era – How does AI redefine knowledge work, reshape organizational competencies, and impact knowledge governance? What strategies can organizations implement to ensure sustainable human-AI collaboration?
• Diversity, Inclusion, and Knowledge Management for AI-Driven Innovation – How does AI-enhanced KM contribute to knowledge diversity and inclusive innovation ecosystems? What are the barriers and enablers of fostering equitable knowledge distribution in digital organizations?

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This special issue aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) number 5, 9, and 10 by promoting knowledge accessibility, technological inclusion, and responsible AI deployment. Goal 5 promotes offering men and women the same chances in the workplace and an appropriate involvement at all levels, while Goal 9 attempts to assist technological advancement, research, and innovation, particularly in emerging nations, to increase market integration and increase accessibility to banking and financial services for small organizations and businesses. Reducing inequality inside and among countries is the aim of Goal 10, intending to advance and enhance people’s cultural, economic, and legal inclusion, regardless of age, gender, impairment, race, ethnicity, birthplace, religion, as well as other conditions.

Proposed Special Issue Topics
We invite empirical and conceptual research contributions that integrate AI, KM, and IC perspectives, including but not limited to:

• AI strategies, KM and Value Creation in different industries;
• KM, AI and Business Model Innovation;
• KM and AI-Enabled Human Resource Practices;
• Digital Transformation and Knowledge Management in SMEs;
• Knowledge Governance, Ethics, and AI;
• Startups, AI, and Knowledge Management for Innovation;
• AI, KM, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Strategies;
• Diversity and Inclusion as driving force for AI;
• Knowledge Management and Sustainable Innovation;
• KM and social innovation;
• AI challenges and threats to KM and Value Creation;
• Drivers and barriers of KM for AI;
• Understanding AI to prevent feeling overwhelmed;
• AI and its contribution to economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

Keywords

Artificial Intelligence (AI), Knowledge Management (KM), Intellectual Capital (IC), Value Creation, Innovation Management, Knowledge Diversity

References

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Andreeva, T., & Kianto, A. (2012). Does knowledge management really matter? Linking knowledge management practices, competitiveness, and economic performance. Journal of Knowledge Management, 16(4), 617-636.

Atanasova, I. (2024). Managing distance e-learning knowledge in the digital age. Knowledge Management Research & Practice, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/14778238.2024.2418627
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Guest Editors

• Valeria Schifilliti, Department of Economics, University of Messina, Italy. Email: vschifilliti@unime.it
• Elvira Tiziana La Rocca, Department of Economics, University of Messina, Italy. Email: elviratiziana.larocca@unime.it
• Francesco Fasano, Department of Management and Finance, University of Calabria, Italy. Email: francesco.fasano@unical.it
• María Eugenia Sánchez Vidal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Spain Spain. Email: meugenia.sanchez@upct.es

Guest Editor Bios

Valeria Schifilliti is Assistant Professor of Strategic Management and Marketing at the Department of Economics, University of Messina. She received her PhD in Economics, Management and Statistics at University of Messina. Her research interests are on several aspects of Innovation such as Artificial Intelligence, Digitalization, Smart Technologies, Gender Diversity in Corporate Boards, Technology Transfer, Smart Tourism Destinations and Disabilities, Business Creation and Startups. These last topics have been investigated both theoretically during her visiting period at the École de Management Léonard de Vinci (Paris) and practically as tutor of the Italian startups participating at Global Startup Programme (London), addressed by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development. She has conducted research also with colleagues at Oxford Brookes University and Krakow University of Economics and has received several Best Contribution Awards at the SIM (2024), SIM (2023), SIMA (2023), and EIASM (2022) conferences. This last best paper award was the Best Junior Contribution to the Theory and Practice Award of Intangibles, IC and Sustainability during the 17th EIASM Interdisciplinary Conference on “Intangibles and Intellectual Capital” (2022).

Elvira Tiziana La Rocca is Associate Professor of Management at the University of Messina (Italy) where she teaches Corporate Governance and International Marketing. She holds a degree in Economics, cum laude, and a Ph.D. in Banking and Finance from University of Calabria. She won a research grant and some best paper awards, such as Mention Award SIMA Conference 2023, 17th EIASM Interdisciplinary Conference on “Intangibles and intellectual capital” (2022), FFABR 2021 e 2017 (Researchers Funding for Basic Activities related to Research), Best Paper AIDEA 2008 e 2006. Her research interests mainly focus on corporate governance, international management, financial resources management. She published three books and several articles in national and international scientific journals, such as Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, Land Use Policy, Small Business Economics, Review of Managerial Science, International Small Business Journal.

Francesco Fasano is Adjunct professor and researcher with tenure track at the University of Calabria. At LUISS University, Rome, research fellow of the ‘Strategic Change’ Research Center and adjunct professor for courses on “Advanced Corporate Finance”, and “Research Project Design.” Four research experiences abroad, at the Universities of Cartagena (Spain), Antwerp (Belgium), Osnabrück (Germany) and Nottingham (UK). Lectured at the Manhattan Institute of Management in New York in 2023 and 2024. Earned the title of “Doctor Europaeus” and received 3 best paper awards at the Digital Transformation conference, EIASM (2022), and SIMA in the ‘Entrepreneurship’ track (2023). Scientific research dealing with entrepreneurship and management presented at 38 international or national conferences/seminars and published in leading journals such as Small Business Economics, International Small Business and Management and Governance. 25 papers published in international peer-reviewed journals.

Mª Eugenia Sánchez Vidal is University Professor of the Business Organization Area, specialized in Human Resource Management. Her lines of research are work life balance, gender equality, labour inclusion of people with disabilities, technology and education. She has more than twenty articles published in high-impact scientific journals such as The International Journal of Human Resource Management, Personnel Review, Journal of Small Business Management or The European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology. Several awards/distinctions received.
She has participated in research projects at the national and European level. https://personas.upct.es/perfil/meugenia.sanchez