How knowledge organizations work: the case of detectives

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize detectives in police investigations as knowledge workers.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a literature review covering knowledge organizations, police organizations, police investigations, and detectives as knowledge workers.

Findings

The paper finds that the changing role of the detective as a resource influences investigation performance in solving complex and organized crime.

Research limitations/implications

This exploratory research provides no final conclusions.

Practical implications

Leadership in police investigations needs to focus on knowledge management among detectives rather than information collection in each criminal case.

Originality/value

Until this paper, the secretive nature of the detective world has been unexplored by manpower researchers.

Citation

Gottschalk, P., Holgersson, S. and Terje Karlsen, J. (2009), "How knowledge organizations work: the case of detectives", The Learning Organization, Vol. 16 No. 2, pp. 88-102. https://doi.org/10.1108/09696470910939189