AbstractA knowledge flow is invisible but it plays an important role in ordering knowledge exchange when working in a team. It can help achieve effective team knowledge management by modeling, optimizing, monitoring, and controlling the operation of knowledge flow processes. This paper proposes the notion of knowledge energy as the driving force behind the formation of an autonomous knowledge flow network, and explores the underlying principles. Knowing these principles helps teams and the support systems improve cooperation by monitoring the knowledge energy of nodes, by evaluating and adjusting knowledge flows, and by adopting appropriate strategies. A knowledge flow network management mechanism can help improve the efficiency of knowledge‐intensive distributed teamwork. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.