From fitness landscapes to knowledge landscapes

Based on the complexity theory concept of fitness landscapes, this article develops and discusses the concept of "knowledge landscapes." A knowledge l andscape is a metaphor describing the ever-changing potential knowledge pea ks and valleys that surround each one of us. Individuals, communities, and organizations move on their own knowledge landscapes by simultaneously clim bing local peaks and exploring other visible peaks. The higher one climbs, the harder it is to climb still higher. Our ability to climb is also limite d by our identity, who we are, which on an organizational level is linked t o the tightness of organizational interconnectedness. Coevolutionary strugg les between individuals and organizations can lead us to climb potential kn owledge peaks faster. Moreover, our knowledge landscapes exist on many leve ls of scale, meaning that what appears to be one peak is actually a series of subpeaks on a smaller level of scale.