An emerging knowledge management framework adopted by healthcare workers in China to combat COVID‐19

This study examines elements of knowledge management (KM) applied during the treatment of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) and proposes a KM framework that can be applied to respond quickly to a new virus outbreak. Following a content analysis of the press conferences held in China, this study found that various elements of KM, including strategic KM, the knowledge codification strategy vs. the knowledge personalization strategy, a knowledge‐friendly culture, knowledge‐based leadership, KM‐based human resource management, and KM‐related information technologies, were widely used by Chinese authorities and healthcare workers to improve treatment effectiveness for COVID‐19 patients. This paper provides a unique case study on how KM helps the government and the healthcare workers to respond to an unexpected public hygiene crisis.(i)