This paper describes a model of knowledge management (KM) assessment in the product development process (PDP), mainly focused on mapping the occurrence of the four types of knowledge conversion in the four dimensions of PDP. A better performance in the (PDP) is gotten through an integrated work in all of its four dimensions: strategy; organization; information flow and activities; and resources. In an extensive bibliographical study (supported by "state of the art" of KM and PD literature) several references have been found that show direct (best practices) or indirectly (hypotheses) the correlation of one or more deployments of the PDP dimensions with the knowledge conversions. Supported by this study a first model was set up for KM in PDP, structured in the analysis and investigation of the several relationships among conversions and dimensions during this process. This paper will present the detailed theoretical construction of such evaluation method.
Knowledge management; Knowledge conversions; Product development process
