Search results
1 – 7 of 7Despite growing interest about a strategic perspective on knowledge management (KM), there is still a lack of a procedure and methods to guide the implementation of KM strategies…
Abstract
Despite growing interest about a strategic perspective on knowledge management (KM), there is still a lack of a procedure and methods to guide the implementation of KM strategies. In this paper, we review the current state of practice of KM initiatives and identify four scenarios for potentially successful KM initiatives. The majority of organizations can be described as being a knowledge management starter. In order to improve these KM initiatives and link them to business strategy, we suggest a process‐oriented knowledge management approach as a step to bridge the gap between human‐ and technology‐oriented KM. This approach is outlined with the help of the four levels of intervention: (1) strategy, (2) KM organization and processes, (3) topics/content, and (4) instruments/systems. The definition and implementation of a process‐oriented KM strategy in a large transaction bank will serve as an example to illustrate the application of our approach.
Details
Keywords
Stefan Thalmann, Ronald Maier, Ulrich Remus and Markus Manhart
This paper aims to clarify how organizations manage their participation in networks to share and jointly create knowledge but also risk unwanted knowledge spillovers at the same…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to clarify how organizations manage their participation in networks to share and jointly create knowledge but also risk unwanted knowledge spillovers at the same time. As formal governance, trust and observation are less applicable in informal networks, the authors need to understand how members address the need to protect knowledge by informal practices. The study aims to investigate how the application of knowledge protection practices affects knowledge sharing in networks. The insights are relevant for organizational and network management to control knowledge risks but harvest the benefits of network engagement.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors opted for an exploratory study based on 60 semi-structured interviews with members of 10 networks. In two rounds, network managers, representatives and members of the networks were interviewed. The second round of interviews was used to validate the intermediate findings. The data were complemented by documentary analysis, including network descriptions.
Findings
Through analyzing and building on the theory of psychological contracts, two informal practices of knowledge protection were found in networks of organizations: exclude crucial topics and share on selected topics and exclude details and share a selected level of detail. The authors explored how these two practices are enacted in networks of organizations with psychological contracts.
Originality/value
Counter to intuition that the protection of knowledge can be strengthened only at the expense of knowledge sharing and vice versa, networks benefitted from more focused and increased knowledge sharing while reducing the risk of losing competitive knowledge by performing these knowledge protection practices.
Details
Keywords
The goal of this paper is to discuss critical success factors (CSF) for implementing enterprise portals by comparing them with CSF for ERP implementations.
Abstract
Purpose
The goal of this paper is to discuss critical success factors (CSF) for implementing enterprise portals by comparing them with CSF for ERP implementations.
Design/methodology/approach
In order to identify and rank CSF for portal implementations, the paper followed a multi‐method design, following a two‐stage approach with the first stage analyzing the state‐of‐the‐art of portal implementation by interviewing portal integrators in Germany and a follow‐up stage with a focus on CSF, thereby identifying and analyzing the CSF for portal (implementation) projects in general and across project stages. Then the findings are compared with the results of a similar study on CSF in ERP (implementation) projects.
Findings
When comparing CSF for portal projects with CSF of ERP projects, some similarities were found but also some differences with respect to top management support, project management, communication, selection of the software package and business process re‐engineering.
Research limitations/implications
There are limitations with regard to the comparability of both studies as both studies used different samples.
Practical implications
Based on these findings, measures to improve the engineering and management of portals can be proposed and developed.
Originality/value
Up to now, there are neither detailed studies focusing on the identification and evaluation of CSF for portal projects nor studies that try to compare portal and ERP projects. The paper tries to fill this gap.
Details
Keywords
Chong Chin Wei, Chong Siong Choy and Paul Heng Ping Yeow
This paper aims assess to the perceived importance (PI) and actual implementation (AI) of five preliminary knowledge management (KM) success factors, i.e. business strategy…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims assess to the perceived importance (PI) and actual implementation (AI) of five preliminary knowledge management (KM) success factors, i.e. business strategy, organizational structure, knowledge team, knowledge audit, and knowledge map in the Malaysian telecommunication industry.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire survey was conducted on telecommunication organizations located in the capital of Malaysia. Data were analyzed using indices and parametric statistics.
Findings
The results show that the organizations are aware of the importance of all the KM factors but fall short of implementation. The implemented factors consist of business strategy, organizational structure, and knowledge team. Knowledge audit and knowledge map are perceived as important but are the least implemented factors.
Research limitations/implications
This study was conducted in only one industry in Malaysia. Furthermore, it focuses on the preliminary success factors of KM implementation rather than on learning and knowledge utilization.
Practical implications
Telecommunication organizations have to overcome resources problems and enhance implementation level in order to narrow the gaps for effective, full scale KM implementation in the later stage. Such viable practice will significantly help the industry not only to compete more effectively within Malaysia, but also to position itself as a global player in the world.
Originality/value
This study is perhaps one of the first to address the preliminary steps to be dealt with prior to KM implementation. Moreover, it attempts to compare the PI and AI of the five proposed success factors, which has received very little attention to date.
Details
Keywords
This paper aims to explore knowledge management (KM) literature to understand further the inter-relationship among KM infrastructure (KMI), KM strategy (KMS), KM process (KMP) and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore knowledge management (KM) literature to understand further the inter-relationship among KM infrastructure (KMI), KM strategy (KMS), KM process (KMP) and individual competence (IC), which are considered very much essential for achieving a heightened competence at an individual level. In the present scenario, knowledge intensive organizations are striving highly to manage competitiveness for their survival in the market. The role of knowledge capability is very much pivotal in ensuring the success of knowledge process implementation.
Design/methodology/approach
A methodical review has been carried out of empirical and conceptual articles to justify the linkages among KMI, KMS, KMP and IC, particularly accessed through sources such as Pro Quest, EBSCO host, Google Scholar and other e-databases. This review integrates a conceptual framework to explore the relationship among the aforesaid constructs.
Findings
This study provides valuable insight into the role of KMI and KMS in enabling various KM processes. It also contributes significantly to organizations by helping them to integrate KM processes so as to enhance IC.
Research limitations/implications
This paper provides helpful suggestions to drive the KMPs by facilitating suitable congruence of infrastructure capabilities and KMSs within organizations. Further, this study would also be helpful in enhancing IC along with organizational competence. Study limitations are also discussed.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to knowledge and competence management literature by adding the fact that KMI and KMS both precede KMP for better outcomes at an individual level.
Details
Keywords
This chapter is based on a four-year literature review process that focused on conceptual business management research. A new platform for advancing business management in…
Abstract
This chapter is based on a four-year literature review process that focused on conceptual business management research. A new platform for advancing business management in competence-related ways is compiled using 66 references that contain a population of 84 competence-related business management concepts published in English between the years 1990 and 2002. For the purposes of this study, the home bases of focal firms are limited to the OECD countries. Ex ante, various research traditions were regrouped into eight schools of thought on business management based on resources, competences, knowledge, organizations, processes, business dynamism, evolution, and Porter's frameworks. The eligible concepts were identified via an analysis of 50 journals and books of 18 publishers. The findings reveal that 99 authors have assigned primary or secondary roles to a firm's competences within their 84 concepts across the eight schools of thought. The two schools with primary emphasis on a firm's competences, the dynamism-based school (18 concepts) and the competence-based school (16 concepts), have produced 34 (41%) concepts. The six other schools have generated 50 (60%) concepts: 14 knowledge-based, ten resource-based, ten evolutionary, seven Porterian, seven organization-based, and two process-based concepts. The platform developed in this chapter may help researchers to focus on the most promising areas and ways to produce highly applicable concepts for managing a firm's dynamic business. Some suggestions to this end are put forth: (i) increase future collaboration between scholars, business managers, and business consultants, (ii) advance competence-based concepts primarily along the international business dimension, and (iii) conduct future competence-related literature reviews. The rigorous conduct of future reviews involves the replicable ways of searching, browsing, including or excluding, retrieving, inferring, coding, and presenting the conceptual data.
Mohammad H. Salaheldin, Mohammad A. Hassanain, Mohammad B. Hamida and Ahmed M. Ibrahim
This study presents findings of post-occupancy evaluation (POE), through a performance assessment, on a polyclinic, as a health-care facility, in Saudi Arabia.
Abstract
Purpose
This study presents findings of post-occupancy evaluation (POE), through a performance assessment, on a polyclinic, as a health-care facility, in Saudi Arabia.
Design/methodology/approach
Review of the literature is conducted to identify the recent publications, on conducting POE, and performance indicators (PIs) assessing performance of health-care facilities. This research uses a triangulated approach by adopting several qualitative and quantitative methods, on a case study. The approach comprised conducting investigative walkthrough to assess the case study facility, interviews with group of occupants to assess its satisfaction levels. The findings were presented to a focus group, where a plan of recommendations was raised to improve the performance of the case study facility.
Findings
A total of 24 PIs were identified, and clustered, mainly under: “Thermal comfort”, “Natural lighting”, “Artificial lighting” and others. The case study has proven a satisfactory performance to the evaluated indicators. However, observations of performance snags were identified that formulated conclusions, related to: “Improvements to air temperature performance in summer season”, “Need of control on natural lighting due to glare”, “Accommodating an over demand for car parking spaces”, Need for development of systems dedicated for collection of occupants satisfaction” and “Enhancing circulation”.
Originality/value
There is a gap identified, through the literature review on availability of systematic conduct of POE, especially in health-care facilities. This paper contributes to the body of knowledge and professional practice, as a guiding systematic scheme, for the conduct of POE, which can be followed and expanded upon by future research.
Details