The Knowledge Management Professional Society (KMPro) is a non-profit organization and was founded in 2001 as the main professional body for those working in the broad field of Knowledge Management (KM) throughout the world and it is a society created by KM professionals for KM professionals. It is the only international, non-profit membership organization in the field of KM. Its purpose is to encourage the practice of KM, promote best practice and to provide a community for those who are active in KM or who have an interest in KM. As a professional society KMPro encourages collaboration, co-operation, networking and fellowship amongst individuals working in this field.
All those in any country or any kind of organization that are involved in or concerned with Knowledge Management can join the Society, which currently has more than 120,000 members from more than 88 countries. There are chapters located world-wide to provide opportunities for collaboration and networking on a local or regional basis, and members are also encouraged to interact through various virtual communities and social networking opportunities both internally and externally LinkedIn Group, and Certification Network LinkedIn Group.
The Society publishes a periodic journal containing case studies, lessons learned, best practice, book reviews and other topics of interest to KM practitioners and the journal is available to both members and non-members. To promote professional development and growth amongst KM practitioners, the Society offers KM Certified Knowledge Manager (CKM) knowledge management certification training, and operates a KM career center that includes individual KM job listings for members as well as compiled KM job feeds available to both members and non-members. KMPro as a professional society awards KM Continuing Education Units (KM-CEU) and is the only Knowledge Management professional society which awards CEUs for Knowledge Management education.
Historical development
In 2001, the Knowledge Management Professional Society (KMPro) was founded in the Washington, DC area and incorporated in the State of Maryland as a non-profit organization. The earliest members derived from the corporate community, public sector and academia and from other existing KM associations. In 2002, KMPro merged with the Knowledge and Innovation Management Professional Society (KIMPS) which was founded in 2000. And in 2005 the Knowledge Management Certification Board (KMCB), founded in 1999, was merged into KMPro where it continues to operate today. Also in 2005, active membership of the Global Knowledge Economic Council (GKEC) and many former members of the Certified Knowledge and Innovation Management Professional Society (CKIMPS) were absorbed by KMPro. During the 2005-2009 period an advisory board was formed, consisting of KM notables including Thomas H. Davenport, Hubert Saint-Onge, Leif Edvinsson, Nick Bontis, Etienne Wenger, Michael Zack, Clyde Holsapple, David Skyrme, Kent Greenes, Charles Despres, Daniele Chauvel, Kurt April, Debra Wallace and Amrit Tiwana.