Special Issue on an Asian Perspective of Knowledge Management and Intellectual Capital

Asia presents a wide range of research opportunities, as the region is home to some of the largest markets in developing nations and offers classical examples of the causes and consequences of rapid development. Furthermore, Asia has witnessed a consistent surge in industrial activity in the past few decades. Knowledge Management and intellectual capital are fundamental for organizational growth. Without enhanced knowledge of human behavior, potential, and possibilities, the pursuit of the most effective transmission of knowledge is impossible.

Asia's uniqueness in knowledge management stems from its integration of cultural traditions and philosophical frameworks with modern organizational practices. Unlike Western knowledge management, which focuses on systematisation, mostly individualistic approaches, and explicit knowledge, Asian approaches underscore tacit knowledge. They maintain collective values with a spiritual backdrop. Prominent among them are the Japanese SECI model (Nonaka & Takeuchi, 1995), which involves the dynamic conversion of tacit and explicit knowledge within shared spaces of interaction; the Islamic context, which is shaped by the principle of ilm, highlighting the moral responsibility of knowledge creation and dissemination (Al-Alawi & Al-Ali, 2018); and Confucian values of China, involving hierarchy, harmony, and long-term relational engagement (Chow et al., 2000). Furthermore, Asian systems exhibit a harmonious interplay between traditional wisdom systems and modern digital platforms.

Asian knowledge management is also culturally embedded, holistic, and ethically conscious, extending beyond organizational efficiency to include collective well-being and sustainability.

We welcome contributions that address any of these issues - or indeed other research in the KM/IC field that specifically addresses the Asian Context.

This call for papers will be open until 31 January 2026

Special issue editor:

Professor Sulphey MM is a Full Professor of Human Resource Management at the College of Business Administration at Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia. His research interests include positive organizational behaviour, knowledge management, cross-cultural management, and sustainability. He has conducted several national and international research projects on various fields of organizational behaviour. He has published widely on organizational behavior, sustainability, and related topics in numerous refereed journals, including eight books. He reviews articles from Elsevier, Springer, Emerald, Sage, and Taylor & Francis journals.