Investigating knowledge management factors affecting Chinese ICT firms performance: An integrated KM framework

This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in the Journal of Information Systems Management, 28(1), 19 - 29, 2011, copyright Taylor & Francis, available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/10580530.2011.536107.This article sets out to investigate the critical factors of Knowledge Management (KM) which are considered to have an impact on the performance of Chinese information and communication technology (ICT) firms. This study confirms that the cultural environment of an enterprise is central to its success in the context of China. It shows that a collaborated, trusted, and learning environment within ICT firms will have a positive impact on their KM performance

Measuring the Performance of Corporate Knowledge Management Systems

Whereas knowledge management systems (KMS) continues to gain popularity as a corporate most advanced information systems, the acceptance of standardized KMS assessment approaches has logged. Developing metrics to assess a corporate KMS is inherently problematic due to the intangible nature of knowledge-based resources, and for the fact that measurement is a precursor to improvement. This is true for knowledge management capabilities of an organization. Nonetheless, assessment is of vital importance for valuation purposes as well as to help managers determine whether particular KMS are effective working. The main focus of this paper is to explain the value of knowledge management and provide a general overview of measurement approaches. Finally, developing an improved measurement system for corporate KMS is considered the key to the competitive success of the organization.Corporate Knowledge, Knowledge Management Systems, Measuring the Performance

Proposition of a method to design tailor-made knowledge management systems for small and medium enterprises

The aim of this paper is to propose a knowledge management system design method for small and medium enterprises that addresses the problems encountered on the existing ones. A literature review highlighted 5 main concepts that have a crucial role in knowledge management system design. To take these recommendations into account, a knowledge management system design method was designed. It uses the small and medium enterprises characteristics, needs and problems to select adapted knowledge management tools and practices, and offers a comprehensive and tailor-made knowledge management system. This method was used to design a knowledge management system for a high-tech small and medium enterprises from the navigation sector. It allowed to choose from the adapted knowledge management tools and practices and to write a set of requirements for the knowledge management system while taking the user into account, thus easing the knowledge management system implementation and ensuring its sustainability

Exploring Meta-Knowledge for Knowledge Management Systems: A Delphi Study

In recent years, information and communication technologies have been implemented in organizations to support the management of organizational knowledge and facilitate more effective knowledge sharing and problem solving. These technologies are collectively termed knowledge management systems (KMS). Unfortunately, the results of implementing KMS in organizations have not been as encouraging as expected. Specific problems facing organizations involve information overload, not using the systems effectively, or reinventing the wheel. Considering the fact that KMS were expected to solve exactly this latter problem, there is a need for studying why these systems fail and how we can improve them. In this paper, we focus on one aspect of the problem—namely, that organization members are not utilizing the knowledge stored in KMS. We propose that by incorporating some knowledge about the knowledge—termed meta-knowledge—we may improve the ability of organization members to locate knowledge and form attitudes about it. This, in turn, can result in better use of KMS and the application of organizational knowledge. To identify the specific meta- knowledge required for the design of KMS, we conduct an exploratory Delphi study using a panel of 28 professionals from seven organizations. Our results show that the relevance of the knowledge, the experience of the knowledge source in the problem domain, and the credibility of the knowledge are the three most important elements of meta-knowledge

Organizational Characteristics, Knowledge Management Strategy, Enablers and Process Capability: Knowledge Management Performance in U.S. Software Companies

Currently, the effect of knowledge management has not been clearly defined or understood and a proper framework for assessing the status of knowledge management is lacking. Most studies examined the relationships among critical factors of knowledge management separately and the empirical research is based on only a few cases or small samples where generalizing the results is significantly reduced. The development of a universal model is necessary as a means to measure relevant constructs. This correlational (explanatory) online survey research is the first to explore the relationships among organizational characteristics, knowledge management strategy, knowledge management enablers, knowledge management process capabilities, and knowledge management performance. Two research questions and 14 hypotheses and related sub-hypotheses were examined. The survey consisted of an 8-item Knowledge Management Strategy Scale, a 26-item modified Knowledge Management Enablers Scale, a 27-item Knowledge Management Process Capability Scale, and a 5-item Knowledge Management Scale. Using a simple random sampling plan, 212 participants from U.S software companies completed an online survey. Multiple regression, moderated multiple regression, and two way ANOVA were used to analyze the data. Of the 14 hypotheses and sub-hypotheses, ten were supported, one was partially supported, and three were not supported. Findings indicated that (a) system orientation and human orientation strategies are significant positive explanatory variables of knowledge management process capability, knowledge management enablers, and knowledge management performance; (b) technology and organizational culture of knowledge management enablers are significant positive explanatory variables of knowledge management process capability and knowledge management performance; (c) the decentralization dimension may inversely affect knowledge management process capability and knowledge management performance; (d) annual sales in dollars was a significant positive explanatory variable of knowledge management strategy and knowledge management process capability; (e) knowledge management process capability is a mediator between knowledge management strategy and organizational characteristics, and knowledge management performance; and (f) companies with a balance of a high degree of human orientation and system orientation strategies have a positive significant relationship with knowledge management performance. The limitations of the study regarding generalization, and recommendations for future research to replicate the study in other countries, are also included

An Ontology-based Knowledge Management System for Industry Clusters

Knowledge-based economy forces companies in the nation to group together as a cluster in order to maintain their competitiveness in the world market. The cluster development relies on two key success factors which are knowledge sharing and collaboration between the actors in the cluster. Thus, our study tries to propose knowledge management system to support knowledge management activities within the cluster. To achieve the objectives of this study, ontology takes a very important role in knowledge management process in various ways; such as building reusable and faster knowledge-bases, better way for representing the knowledge explicitly. However, creating and representing ontology create difficulties to organization due to the ambiguity and unstructured of source of knowledge. Therefore, the objectives of this paper are to propose the methodology to create and represent ontology for the organization development by using knowledge engineering approach. The handicraft cluster in Thailand is used as a case study to illustrate our proposed methodology.Ontology, Knowledge Management System, Industry Clusters