Purpose – This paper aims to review research on the topic of knowledge risks to establish the current body of knowledge and, on this basis, to suggest some promising avenues for future research.

Design/methodology/approach – This study consists of a systematic review of 52 refereed articles on knowledge risks.

Findings – The findings contribute to a more holistic view of the topic and related aspects and, thus, complement the study of knowledge management. Additionally, a number of research questions are proposed, aimed at guiding and informing future research activities.

Research limitations/implications – This study may not have enabled a complete coverage of all articles in the field of knowledge risks. Yet, based on the chosen research methodology, it seems reasonable to assume that the review process covered a large share of studies available.

Originality/value – To the best of the author’s knowledge, no systematic literature review on knowledge risks and related issues has previously been published in academic journals. Keywords Knowledge loss, Knowledge management, Systematic literature review, Knowledge risk management, Knowledge risks

Paper type Literature review