Abstract Purpose The evolution of the socio-cognitive structure of the field of knowledge management (KM) during the period 1986–2015 is described. Design/methodology/approach Records retrieved from Web of Science were submitted to author co-citation analysis (ACA) following a longitudinal perspective as of the following time slices: 1986–1996, 1997–2006, and 2007–2015. The top 10% of most cited first authors by sub-periods were mapped in bibliometric networks in order to interpret the communities formed and their relationships. Findings KM is a homogeneous field as indicated by networks results. Nine classical authors are identified since they are highly co-cited in each sub-period, highlighting Ikujiro Nonaka as the most influential authors in the field. The most significant communities in KM are devoted to strategic management, KM foundations, organisational learning and behaviour, and organisational theories. Major trends in the evolution of the intellectual structure of KM evidence a technological influence in 1986–1996, a strategic influence in 1997–2006, and finally a sociological influence in 2007–2015. Research limitations Describing a field from a single database can offer biases in terms of output coverage. Likewise, the conference proceedings and books were not used and the analysis was only based on first authors. However, the results obtained can be very useful to understand the evolution of KM research. Practical implications These results might be useful for managers and academicians to understand the evolution of KM field and to (re)define research activities and organisational projects. Originality/value The novelty of this paper lies in considering ACA as a bibliometric technique to study KM research. In addition, our investigation has a wider time coverage than earlier articles.

中文翻译：

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知识管理的社会认知结构的演变（1986–2015）：作者同被引分析

摘要目的描述1986-2015年期间知识管理（KM）领域的社会认知结构的演变。设计/方法学/方法从Web of Science检索到的记录按照以下时间范围的纵向观点提交给作者共引证分析（ACA）：1986-1996、1997-2006和2007-2015。根据子时期，在引用最多的第一作者中，前10％排在文献计量网络中，以解释所形成的社区及其关系。结果KM是网络结果指示的同质字段。之所以能够找到9名古典作家，是因为每个子时期他们都被高度引用，这凸显野中郁次郎（Ikujiro Nonaka）是该领域最具影响力的作家。知识管理中最重要的社区致力于战略管理，知识管理基金会，组织学习和行为以及组织理论。知识管理知识结构发展的主要趋势表明，1986年至1996年是技术影响力，1997年至2006年是战略影响力，最后是2007年至2015年的社会学影响力。研究局限性从单个数据库描述一个字段可能会在输出覆盖率方面产生偏差。同样，没有使用会议记录和书籍，分析仅基于第一作者。但是，获得的结果对于理解KM研究的发展非常有用。实际意义这些结果可能对管理人员和院士了解KM领域的发展以及（重新）定义研究活动和组织项目很有用。原创性/价值本文的新颖之处在于将ACA作为研究KM研究的文献计量技术。此外，我们的调查比以前的文章有更广泛的时间报道。