Abstract

This paper addresses the importance of knowledge management (KM) and the relationship of that theory when applied to improving interior design organizational performance in four areas: people, processes, design products, and organizational performance. Included is the way knowledge theory manifests in three different professional settings: coaching and training, designing, and service settings. Knowledge management, although well established in interior design services, requires effort in coaching and training as motivation is a critical variable. Whereas, strategies for knowledge management vary from industry to industry given diversity in situational variables, knowledge in each professional setting can be significantly aided by capturing and storing empirical, tacit, and explicit information, providing real-time electronic storage and retrieval of information [5] and consistent with transformational theory, through opening communication channels across the full range of the organization, inspiring and motivating individuals, and aligning all members of the organization toward a common vision [8]. Professional settings discussed in this paper are:(a)an learning organization enumerated in KM; (b)designing factors for managing knowledge theory themes; and (c)service, effective, efficient, and innovative KM application that is relevant to the process of developing effective KM for interior design service organizations. Folded within each will be a discussion on KM’s impacts on visions, strategies, costs, and organizational performance. It has reiterated the impact of KM on one level might lead to synergistic impacts on another. Thus, KM has the potential to produce several interconnected impacts on people, design products, processes, and organizations.