Editing Knowledge management (section)

=== Knowledge protection methods ===
There are various methods for knowledge protection and those methods are often divided into two categories by their formality: formal protection and informal protection.<ref name="gast2019">{{cite journal |last1=Gast |first1=Johanna |last2=Gundolf |first2=Katherine |last3=Harms |first3=Rainer |last4=Matos Collado |first4=Elvin |title=Knowledge management and coopetition: How do cooperating competitors balance the needs to share and protect their knowledge? |journal=Industrial Marketing Management |year=2019 |volume=77 |pages=65–74 |doi=10.1016/j.indmarman.2018.12.007|s2cid=169838694 |url=https://ris.utwente.nl/ws/files/124075017/1_s2.0_S0019850118303298_main.pdf }}</ref><ref name=":2"/><ref name="ws2023">{{cite book |chapter=Methods of Knowledge Protection |chapter-url=https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/abs/10.1142/9781848169616_0008 |website=World Scientific |series=Series on Technology Management |year=2012 |volume=21 |pages=89–91 |doi=10.1142/9781848169616_0008 |isbn=978-1-84816-960-9 |access-date=9 May 2023 |archive-date=10 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230510095337/https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/abs/10.1142/9781848169616_0008 |url-status=live |title=Workbook for Opening Innovation |publisher=Imperial College Press }}</ref><ref name="bolisani2013">{{cite journal |last1=Bolisani |first1=Ettore |last2=Paiola |first2=Marco |last3=Scarso |first3=Enrico |title=Knowledge protection in knowledge-intensive business services |journal=Journal of Intellectual Capital |date=1 January 2013 |volume=14 |issue=2 |pages=192–211 |doi=10.1108/14691931311323841}}</ref> Occasionally a third category is introduced, semi-formal protection, which includes contracts and trade-secrets.<ref name="ws2023"/><ref name="bolisani2013" /><ref name="stefan2017">{{cite journal |last1=Stefan |first1=Ioana |last2=Bengtsson |first2=Lars |title=Unravelling appropriability mechanisms and openness depth effects on firm performance across stages in the innovation process |journal=Technological Forecasting & Social Change |date=2017 |volume=120 |pages=252–260 |doi=10.1016/j.techfore.2017.03.014|s2cid=85557336 |doi-access=free }}</ref>&nbsp; These semi-formal methods are also usually placed under formal methods.

Organizations often use a combination of formal and informal knowledge protection methods to achieve comprehensive protection of their knowledge assets.<ref name="bolisani2013"/> The formal and informal knowledge protection mechanisms are different in nature, and they have their benefits and drawbacks. In many organizations, the challenge is to find a good mix of measures that works for the organization.<ref name=":2"/>

==== Formal methods ====
Formal knowledge protection practices can take various forms, such as legal instruments or formal procedures and structures, to control which knowledge is shared and which is protected.<ref name="gast2019"/> Formal knowledge protection methods include for example: patents, trademarks, copyrights and licensing.<ref name="gast2019"/><ref name="ws2023"/><ref name="estrada2016">{{cite journal |last1=Estrada |first1=Isabel |last2=Faems |first2=Dries |last3=de Faria |first3=Pedro |title=Coopetition and product innovation performance: The role of internal knowledge sharing mechanisms and formal knowledge protection mechanisms |journal=Industrial Marketing Management |date=2016 |volume=53 |pages=56–65 |doi=10.1016/j.indmarman.2015.11.013|url=https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/80563452/Coopetition_and_product_innovation_performance_The_role_of_internal.pdf }}</ref>

Technical solutions to protect the knowledge fall also under the category of formal knowledge protection. Formal knowledge protection from technical viewpoint includes technical access constraints and protection of communication channels, systems, and storage.<ref name=":2"/>

While knowledge may eventually become public in some form or another, formal protection mechanisms are necessary to prevent competitors from directly utilizing it for their own gain.<ref name=":2"/> Formal protection methods are particularly effective in protecting established knowledge that can be codified and embodied in final products or services.<ref name="estrada2016"/>

==== Informal methods ====
Informal knowledge protection methods refer to the use of informal mechanisms such as human resource management practices or secrecy to protect knowledge assets. There is notable amount of knowledge that cannot be protected by formal methods, and for which more informal protection might be the most efficient option.<ref name="olander2014"/>

Informal knowledge protection methods can take various forms, such as: secrecy, social norms and values, complexity, lead-time and Human resource management.<ref name="gast2019"/><ref name="estrada2016"/><ref name="telg2023">{{cite journal |last1=Telg |first1=Nina |last2=Lokshin |first2=Boris |last3=Letterie |first3=Wilko |title=How formal and informal intellectual property protection matters for firms' decision to engage in coopetition: The role of environmental dynamism and competition intensity |journal=Technovation |date=2023 |volume=124 |page=102751 |doi=10.1016/j.technovation.2023.102751|s2cid=257908051 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="olander2014">{{cite journal |last1=Olander |first1=Heidi |last2=Vanhala |first2=Mika |last3=Hurmelinna-Laukkanen |first3=Pia |title=Reasons for choosing mechanisms to protect knowledge and innovations |journal=Management Decision |date=2014 |volume=52 |issue=2 |pages=207–229 |doi=10.1108/MD-11-2012-0791|url=https://lutpub.lut.fi/handle/10024/160013 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Informal knowledge protection methods protect knowledge assets for example by making it difficult for outsiders to access and understand the knowledge within the boundaries of the organization.<ref name="telg2023"/> Informal protection methods are more effective for protecting knowledge that is complex or difficult to express, articulate, or codify.<ref name="telg2023"/><ref name="olander2014"/>