Purpose – The purpose of this research is to make evident the inadequateness of concepts and language based on industrial knowledge still used in current practices by managers to cope with problems of the post‐industrial societies characterised by non‐linear process of emergence and...

Purpose – This article aims to outline the scope of this Special Issue and of the six papers. Design/methodology/approach – The paper outlines the concepts and approaches within the knowledge domain which are the focus of the present issue and themes of the papers. Findings – The paper...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe fundamental concepts and theoretical challenges with regard to systems, and to build on these in proposing new theoretical frameworks relevant to learning, for example in so‐called learning organizations. Design/methodology/approach – The...

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to expound the view that knowledge of a special kind, which the author terms open knowledge, has a central place in the conduct of human activities at the global level. Design/methodology/approach – The author advances the concept of open knowledge in...