Managing Regional Development: A Knowledge Perspective

This paper focuses on the knowledge aspects of the management of regional development. The applicability of four interrelated but distinct disciplines of knowledge-based management - information management, business intelligence, knowledge management and intellectual capital management - are examined in relation to the practical managerial needs of regional planning and development. The conceptual part of this paper syntheses the wide knowledge-based management research field and provides an interpretation of its potential contribution to the regional development context. The empirical section mirrors the conceptual discussion against the practical needs of the regional development network of Tampere Region (Finland). The results suggest that there is a need for conceptual understanding of the role of knowledge in regional development, a need for ICT tools to manage the large quantities of knowledge and also a need for managerial, more human-oriented practices. Different managerial disciplines provide potential solutions for those needs.