How management tools holistically support enterprises’ operation in supply chains?

The paper examines how utilization of management tools supports enterprises’ operating in supply chains. The paper critically reviews the results of a previous, survey-based study, with a sample of 198 employees from Slovenian organizations, who assessed utilization of management tools in their organizations. With hierarchical regression analysis authors test the associations between management tools’ usage and enterprises operating in supply chain; the impact was controlled with the most significant personal and organizational drivers of management-tools usage. Results show that loyalty management, core competences, and scenario and contingency planning are most strongly associated with the supply chain management’s activities in organizations. The traditional supply chain management’ tools, like outsourcing, lean production and total quality management, are currently not considered to be important vehicles for supporting enterprises’ participation in supply chains. The results from this study suggest rethinking of the current focus of management tools utilization, when organizations try to improve their participation in supply chains. More management tools were measured than in earlier studies regarding management tools, supporting enterprises’ participation in supply chain; relations between management-tools utilization and enterprise participation in supply chain were empirically examined. In addition, the most commonly used management tools were considered simultaneously, which had not been done in prior studies

Empreendedorismo de base tecnológica no Sul do Brasil

This paper analyzes the current scenario of technology-based incubators (TBIs) in South Brazil from a socioeconomic and intellectual perspective, through correlations with higher education institutes with stricto sensu graduate programs, intellectual property rights, investments in science and technology, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Human Development Index (HDI). The study focused on the Brazilian South region, since it presents some of the best social indicators in the country. Based on correlation analysis, it was possible to investigate an outstanding scenario in developed nations, which involves technology-based entrepreneurship. The results show that: (1) the presence of TBIs is strongly related to the existence of higher education institutes with stricto sensu graduate programs; (2) the existence of TBIs is highly associated with high levels of intellectual production; (3) the states that receive more investment in science and technology are positively correlated with TBIs; (4) the existence of TBIs presents a negligible correlation with the GDP; (5) the existence of TBIs shows a weak correlation with the HDI. Thus, this study allowed the investigation of the South Brazilian scenario related to the implementation and operation of TBIs.Este artigo analisa o panorama das incubadoras de empresas de base tecnológica (IBTs) na região sul do Brasil sob um viés socioeconômico e intelectual, através de correlações com instituições de ensino superior com programas de pós-graduação stricto sensu, direitos de propriedade intelectual concedidos, investimento em ciência e tecnologia, Produto Interno Bruto (PIB) e Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano (IDH). O estudo focou na região sul-brasileira, visto que esta apresenta alguns dos melhores indicadores sociais do país. Através da análise de correlações, pode-se elucidar um cenário de destaque nas nações desenvolvidas, que envolve o empreendedorismo de base tecnológica. Os resultados demonstraram que: (1) a presença de IBTs está fortemente relacionada à existência de instituições de ensino superior com programas de pós-graduação stricto sensu; (2) a existência de IBTs está altamente relacionada a níveis elevados de produção intelectual; (3) estados que recebem mais investimentos em ciência e tecnologia estão positivamente relacionados com IBTs; (4) a existência de IBTs apresenta correlação desprezível com o PIB; (5) a existência de IBTs apresenta correlação fraca com o IDH. Assim, o estudo permitiu verificar o cenário sul-brasileiro com relação à implantação e ao funcionamento de IBTs

The performance implications of knowledge management and strategic alignment of MNC subsidiaries

Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to investigate antecedents and results of strategic choices of multinational corporation (MNC) subsidiaries in Croatia economy. Hence, the authors examined knowledge management and its association with performance. Additionally, they explored which of the strategies will be most likely chosen by subsidiaries in transitional economies that are characterized by market volatility and uncertainty. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected from a survey of 131 MNC subsidiaries operating in Croatia. To test the theoretical correlation between knowledge management capabilities and strategic orientation, the authors used the ANCOVA method and controlled for industry, years in international business and firm size. Findings: The results pointed out the recognized necessities for a specific alignment between environment, strategy and knowledge management capabilities. The findings also suggest that there is a positive relationship between knowledge management and performance. Research limitations/implications: As with most of the research, this paper has limitations. First, all data were collected using self-report surveys raising the possibility of response set biases. Additionally, all data were collected at one point in one country specifically in Croatia. Practical implications: Clearly, there is substantial interaction between the MNC subsidiary’s environment and the MNC subsidiary’s strategic orientation. Most notably, the environment studied here was at the competitive and consumer market level. Firms need to develop a strategic plan for knowledge management based upon the local environmental influences. Social implications: Other firms from Central and Eastern European and developed countries may compare their own environment, strategy and knowledge management practices in MNCs with findings from Croatia to be aware of similarities and market differences. Originality/value: The strategic employment of knowledge acquisition, conversion and application are examined across firms using the Prospector, Analyzer, Defender and Reactor strategic orientations

Efeitos do Compartilhamento de Informações, Transferência de Conhecimentos e Capacidades Organizacionais na relação entre Gestão do Conhecimento e Desempenho

A pesquisa investiga os efeitos do compartilhamento de informação, da transferência de conhecimentos e de capacidades organizacionais (absortiva, aprendizagem organizacional e inovação) na relação entre adoção de práticas de gestão do conhecimento e desempenho organizacional junto a 105 gerentes de produção de indústrias automotivas que operam no Brasil. A pesquisa possui abordagem quantitativa, caracterizada como descritiva e realizada por meio de levantamento. Os resultados revelam que a adoção de práticas de gestão do conhecimento, o compartilhamento de informações e a transferência de conhecimentos são antecedentes do desenvolvimento das capacidades organizacionais e tais capacidades potencializam o desempenho organizacional. Esses achados permitem inferir que a adoção de práticas de gestão do conhecimento chave da empresa contribuem para que ocorra a partilha de informações privadas da área de responsabilidade de subordinados aos seus superiores, o que resulta em maiores níveis de disponibilidade e utilização de diferentes meios para a transferência de conhecimentos entre funcionários. Nessas condições, estas empresas estão mais propensas a desenvolver a capacidade de adquirir, assimilar, aplicar e aprender com os conhecimentos e experiências que percorrem na empresa, utilizando-os para a criação de ideias inovadoras para seus produtos, processos e serviços, o que impacta positivamente o desempenho. Os resultados revelam contribuições importantes para as indústrias automotivas, ao evidenciar que para facilitar o compartilhamento de conhecimentos e informações, os gestores podem nutrir uma cultura organizacional que vise atividades de compartilhamento e transferência de conhecimentos que promovam as capacidades organizacionais analisadas, visto que tais práticas, quando incorporadas nas organizações, promovem o desempenho organizacional

The Trilogy of Science: Filling the Knowledge Management Gap with Knowledge Science and Theory

The international knowledge management field has different ways of investigating, developing, believing, and studying knowledge management. Knowledge management (KM) is distinguished deductively by know-how, and its intangible nature establishes different approaches to KM concepts, practices, and developments. Exploratory research and theoretical principles have formed functional intelligences from 1896 to 2013, leading to a knowledge management knowledge science (KMKS) concept that derived a grounded theory of knowledge activity (KAT). This study addressed the impact of knowledge production problems on KM practice. The purpose of this qualitative meta-analysis study was to fit KM practice within the framework of knowledge science (KS) study. Themed questions and research variables focused on field mechanisms, operative functions, principle theory, and relationships of KMKS. The action research used by American practitioners has not established a formal structure for KS. The meta-data-analysis examined 385 transdisciplinary peer-reviewed articles using social science, service science, and systems science databases, with a selection of interdisciplinary studies that had a practice-research-theory framework. Key attributes utilizing Boolean limiters, words, phrases and publication dates, along with triangulation, language analysis and coding through analytic software identified commonalities of the data under study. Findings reflect that KM has not become a theoretically saturated field. KS as the forensic science of KM creates a paradigm shift, causes social change that averts rapid shifts in management direction and uncertainty, and connects KM philosophy and science of knowledge. These findings have social change implications by informing the work of managers and academics to generate a methodical applied science