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RésuméCe papier analyse la différence entre deux domaines importants de la recherche : l’I.E. et le K.M. Il propose un cadre de compréhension de la complémentarité entre ces deux domaines. Après une revue de la littérature, nous montrons que l’I.E. et le K.M. sont deux facettes complémentaires d’une même problématique, au service de la performance de l’entreprise. Alors que l’I.E. se focalise sur la connaissance explicite, le K.M. englobe simultanément les deux types de connaissance : tacite et explicite. Les deux concepts mettent en valeur l’apprentissage, l’innovation, la prise de décision et la compréhension par utilisation de processus similaires. Ces processus vont de la recherche (de l’information) à l’analyse et l’interprétation (connaissance) en passant par le partage, la collaboration et l’apprentissage, la finalité des deux concepts étant d’accroître la capacité d’absorption de l’organisation. L’intégration demandée entre ces deux concepts (I.E. et K.M), pose la question de savoir lequel des deux concepts englobe le second.

This paper aims at analyzing the differences between two major research fields: Business intelligence and knowledge management. A framework showing the complementarities between those two fields is set up. After a literature review on those two fields we explain that economic intelligence and knowledge management are two complementary aspects as regards a unique issue, which is supporting companies’ global performance. Economic intelligence shows a major focus on explicit knowledge when as knowledge management encompasses simultaneously tacit and explicit knowledge. Both concepts emphasize the following criteria (learning practices, innovation systems, decision making and understanding) relying on similar processes. Those processes encompass various fields starting from information search to knowledge analysis and interpretation. It also covers information sharing, collaborative work and learning practices. Both concepts goals are to increase the organization absorptive capacity. This requires a necessary integration between those two concepts (Economic intelligence and knowledge management). The issue could be formulated such as: which one of those two concepts would absorb the other. Answering this question is critical as far as it may affect the deployment of those strategic functions within organizations.