This paper provides a conceptual framework for understanding and implementing CKM in organizations, illustrating the framework with some of the practices businesses are using in this area. Although every organization defines its customer(s) differently and uses knowledge in its own way to enhance their customer relationships, all organizations seek to do one of four things in CKM:
• develop knowledge about customers;
• use knowledge to support customers and enhance their experience with the firm,
• learn from customers; and
• co-create new knowledge.
CKM is not a tool (like CRM), but a process that is designed to capture, create and integrate knowledge about and for customers dynamically. Thus, organizations need to think differently about themselves and how they are viewed by their customers. The focus group made it clear that companies are just beginning to understand the implications of CKM. Knowledge managers would therefore be well-advised to proceed cautiously. Poorly conceived and executed CKM initiatives could be problematic for organizations in many highly visible ways. Furthermore, the organizational challenges involved in becoming customer-centric are significant. Nevertheless, the work being done in this area by focus group companies is substantive. CKM appears to be one of the areas of KM that is already beginning to deliver tangible value to organizations in the near term.