Measuring the Knower: Towards a Theory of Knowledge Equity

Abstract

If practitioners and researchers are serious about developing a comprehensive theory and field of management, then it is crucial to develop valid and reliable measures of knowledge. This article makes the point that meaningful progress in this area begins with an appreciation of the ways in which the attributes of knowledge differ from those of traditional economic goods. It then argues that the key to solving the problem is introducing the subject or user of knowledge—the knower—into the measurement process. The article then presents some real-world examples where success in the area of measuring knowledge and knowers is being made.