Organizational learning, knowledge management practices and firm’s performance

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajay K. Jain ◽  
Ana Moreno

Purpose – The study aims at investigating the impact of organizational learning (OL) on the firm’s performance and knowledge management (KM) practices in a heavy engineering organization in India. Design/methodology/approach – The data were collected from 205 middle and senior executives working in the project engineering management division of a heavy engineering public sector organization. The organization manufactures power generation equipment. Questionnaires were administered to collect the data from the respondents. Findings – Results were analyzed using the exploratory factor analysis and multiple regression analysis techniques. The findings showed that all the factors of OL, i.e. collaboration and team working, performance management, autonomy and freedom, reward and recognition and achievement orientation were found to be the positive predictors of different dimensions of firm’s performance and KM practices. Research limitations/implications – The implications are discussed to improve the OL culture to enhance the KM practices so that firm’s performance could be sustained financially or otherwise. The study is conducted in one division of a large public organization, hence generalizability is limited. Originality/value – This is an original study carried out in a large a heavy engineering organization in India that validates the theory of OL and KM in the Indian context.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ata Al Shraah ◽  
Ayman Abu-Rumman ◽  
Faisal Al Madi ◽  
Fawwaz Ali Farhan Alhammad ◽  
Ayah Ahmad AlJboor

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the impact of total quality practices on knowledge management (KM) processes across a Social Security Corporation (SSC) in Jordan and explore the best approach to improve KM processes using quality management.Design/methodology/approachThis study followed a quantitative methodology: a conceptual model was developed based on an extensive review of the related literature; an online survey was developed and distributed using the SSC's intranet; and 384 surveys were completed and used in the statistical analysis. The two-stage approach of structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze and interpret the data, and was used to validate the conceptual model of this research.FindingsBased on the statistical analysis it was found that six out of seven independent factors relating to quality management practices were confirmed to have a significant impact on the knowledge management processes (KMPs). Building upon the findings an agenda for improving KM processes using quality management is proposed.Originality/valueThis study was conducted in one organization namely the SSC because it is the largest public service organization in Jordan and offers compulsory services. The inclusion of other public organizations and companies may reflect different findings. Future research may collect data from other service industries to get a more comprehensive perspective from developing countries such as Jordan. Moreover, the population of this study included only the General Director, General Director Assistants, and Administrative Managers. Front-line employees were excluded from the data collection because the study was conducted solely from a managerial perspective.


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (9) ◽  
pp. 2273-2297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deemah Alassaf ◽  
Marina Dabić ◽  
Dara Shifrer ◽  
Tugrul Daim

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to fill a significant research gap in academic literature pertaining to open innovation (OI). To do so, this paper empirically tests the impact of organizational culture, employees’ knowledge, attitudes and rewards as antecedents and mediators of OI adoption in organizations, facilitating a more thorough understanding by using an empirical multi-level approach. Design/methodology/approach This paper analyzes the results of the “Identification of Industrial Needs for Open Innovation Education in Europe” survey through a quantitative analysis using logistic regression models. This survey includes 528 employees working in 28 different industrial sectors in 37 countries, most of which are in Europe. Findings The results suggest a positive impact of organizational characteristics on the adoption of OI (i.e. including the adoption of outside-in and inside-out OI activities in participating organizations), showing that the openness of an organization’s culture increases its likelihood of adopting an OI paradigm. More importantly, the results highlight the positive mediating effect of employees’ knowledge and rewards on this relationship. Research limitations/implications The data set that was the basis of this paper was generated in European countries, the results of the analysis are limited and appropriate for this region and may vary when applied to other regions of the world. Practical implications The proposed multi-level approach offers new insight into organizational knowledge. It enables the improvement of OI and knowledge management practices in organizations by assisting practitioners and academics in recognizing the relationship between organizational culture; employees’ knowledge, attitudes and rewards; and the adoption of the OI paradigm. Social implications This paper offers a possible explanation on why open-border cultures are more likely to have a successful OI adoption, by relating it to factors that advance in the presence of an open-border culture, such as active participation of OI relative departments in knowledge sourcing and knowledge exchange, and rewarding employees for OI activities. Originality/value This paper presents a new framework which links organizational culture to OI, moving on from merely examining culture in terms of its positive or negative impact on OI adoption. It contributes to research on the OI paradigm and knowledge management by highlighting the significance of antecedents and mediators from a multi-level perspective using multiple units of analysis. Most previous studies focus on a single unit of analysis.


2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 432-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henri Tapio Inkinen ◽  
Aino Kianto ◽  
Mika Vanhala

Purpose – Recent empirical studies have suggested that knowledge-based issues are closely related to companies’ innovation performance. However, the majority of research seems to be focused either on static knowledge assets or knowledge processes such as knowledge creation. The purpose of this paper is to concentrate on the conscious and systematic managerial activities for dealing with knowledge in firms (i.e. knowledge management (KM) practices), which aim at innovation performance improvements through proactive management of knowledge assets. The study explores the impact that KM practices have on innovation performance. Design/methodology/approach – The authors provide empirical evidence on how various KM practices influence innovation performance. The results are based on survey data collected in Finland during fall 2013. The authors use partial least squares to test the hypothesized relationships between KM practices and innovation performance. Findings – The authors find that firms are capable of supporting innovation performance through strategic management of knowledge and competence, knowledge-based compensation practices, and information technology practices. The authors also point out that some of the studied KM practices are not directly associated with innovation performance. Originality/value – This study adds to the knowledge-based view of the firm by demonstrating the significance of the management of knowledge for innovation performance. Furthermore, the division of KM practices into ten types and the provision of the validated scales for measuring these add to the general understanding of KM as a field of theory and practice. This study is valuable also from managerial perspective, as it sheds light on the potentially most effective KM practices to improve companies’ innovation performance.


2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 1217-1242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Attia ◽  
Ingy Essam Eldin

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of knowledge management capabilities (KMCs) on organizational learning (OL) and supply chain management practices (SCMPs). In addition, to study the effect of OL, KMC and supply chain management on organizational performance (OP).Design/methodology/approachTo study the relationships between KMC, OL, SCMP and OP, different techniques such as factor analysis, correlation analysis and structural equation modeling were used to verify the validity of the proposed conceptual model, and to test the suggested hypotheses, data collected from 165 companies in the Saudi food industry (representing a response rate of 64.9 per cent) were used.FindingsAccording to the study’s findings, SCMP and OL are positively affected by KMC. Moreover, OP is directly affected by KMC, OL and SCMP.Research limitations/implicationsOwing to the specific nature of the sample, the findings of the current research are applicable only to the food industry.Originality/valueThe current research introduced a conceptual model, which has been tested and verified in the Saudi food industry. The findings recommend that both KMC and OL as well as SCMP will contribute to improving the OP. In addition, KMC will improve the SCMP and OL.


2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 368-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Wang ◽  
Ming Xu

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose a research model exploring the link between open innovation, customer knowledge management and radical innovation. It seeks to answer these research questions: is there any difference among the effects of different types of open innovation activities on radical innovation? How does the organizational learning ability influence the impact of customer knowledge management on radical innovation? Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on the data collected from a sample of 165 modern service enterprises located in the Yangtze River Delta region. The authors conducted a structural equation modeling analysis using SPSS and MPLUS to test the proposed hypotheses. Findings The results showed that different kinds of open innovation activities had different impacts on the path to radical innovation. Inbound open innovation activities directly influenced radical innovation while the effect of outbound open innovation activities on radical innovation combined with the organizational exploitative learning ability is indirect. Similarly, the empirical results also proved that customer knowledge management had an indirect effect on radical innovation through the organizational learning ability, and the influence of the exploratory learning ability was more prominent. Originality/value Under the background of the national innovation driven by the development strategy, this paper studies the impact mechanism of radical innovation from the perspectives of open innovation and customer knowledge management. Therefore, it is suggested that the enterprise should adopt open innovation activities to foster innovation performance, formulate a customer-oriented innovation strategy and invest information and communication technologies to enhance the organizational learning ability of the enterprise.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khadra Dahou ◽  
Ishaq Hacini ◽  
John Burgoyne

Purpose Organizational learning (OL) represents the real value and the heart of strategic management, the focal point to keep track of international development. This paper aims to investigate the effect of knowledge management (KM) on the development of OL capability (OLC) in international hotels installed in Algeria. Design/methodology/approach This deductive descriptive case study research examines the impact of KM, using knowledge conversion process (KCP) on the development of OLC. In all, 70 expatriates were targeted to respond to questionnaires, while only 47 were valid for analysis. Multiple regression analysis is used to analyze the influential processes on OLC. Findings The socialization, externalization and internalization have a direct positive significant effect on the development of OLC. Socialization is the major influencing factor. However, the combination has no effect on OLC. In sum, KM has an impact on the development of OLC in international hotels in Algeria. Practical implications Exhibiting the strong interdependency between KM and OL, expatriates emphasize on KM as the learning facilitator. The international hotels keen to realize KM as major process to build OLC. Socialization and internalization reinforce learning by providing primordial sophisticated tacit knowledge. Externalization generates expertise and strategic knowledge. Originality/value First, the research confirms the effect of KM process using KPC on OLC, stimulating learning at all levels; especially, in a developing Arab country, emphasizing the research’s theoretical contribution. The research is of high contribution, first of a kind in exploring the development of OLC in international hotels in the Algerian context; it is a newly emergent market, in its infancy stage, and an alternative that Algeria tries to boost to steer away from petroleum dependency.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 301-318
Author(s):  
Ade Irma Susanty ◽  
Yuyu Yuningsih ◽  
Grisna Anggadwita

Purpose This paper aims to concentrate on the conscious and systematic managerial activities associated with handling knowledge in an organization [i.e. knowledge management (KM) practices] for the purpose of improving innovation performance through proactive management of knowledge assets. This study explores the impact of KM practices on innovation performance in the research and training center of government apparatus. Design/methodology/approach This research provides empirical evidence on how various KM practices influence innovation performance. The results are based on the survey data collected in four areas of research and training centers of government apparatuses in Indonesia. Partial least squares are used to test the hypothesized relationships between KM practices and innovation performance. Findings The study found that IT practices and work organizations are positively and significantly related to innovation performance. This means that better implementation of information and technology will push innovation performance. The study also points out that knowledge-based compensation practice is one of the KM practice variables which is negatively and significantly related to innovation performance. This result shows that innovation performance will decrease by compensating knowledge improvement. Practical implications This study implies that in developing innovation performance, the research and training center should not focus on providing compensation, as it will only increase the costs rather than the innovation performance itself. Originality/value This study adds a knowledge-based view of government agencies by demonstrating the significance of KM for innovation performance. This study is also valuable from a managerial perspective, as it highlights the most effective KM practice to improve organizational innovation performance.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph K. Nwankpa ◽  
Yaman Roumani ◽  
Pratim Datta

Purpose This paper aims to examine the dynamic relationship between digital business intensity (DBI) and process innovation through knowledge management. More specifically, the paper investigates the mechanism through which DBI and knowledge management jointly influence process innovation. Design/methodology/approach The study used a single informant approach of data collection and consistent with prior research, and a random sample of CIOs was selected and invited to participate in the survey resulting in a total 193 usable responses. The analysis and empirical validation of the research model used partial least square. Findings The results reveal a positive link between DBI and process innovation. This finding presents empirical support for hitherto anecdotal evidence regarding the impact of DBI on process innovation. In particular, the study notes the impactful role of DBI as an input repertoire that facilitates knowledge management with subsequent positive effects on process innovation. Results further surface an accentuating interplay between DBI and knowledge management on process innovation. Originality/value The current study advances our understanding of how DBI, a pre-condition to attaining digital business strategy, influences process innovation. Moreover, investigating the consequences of DBI should help offer an initial insight to managers and top management facing the challenge of implementing a successful digital footprint in an increasingly digital business landscape. Furthermore, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to investigate how digitization efforts and knowledge management practices jointly affect process innovation.


Author(s):  
Vikas Gupta ◽  
Meenu Chopra

Purpose This paper aims to explore knowledge management (KM) literature to understand the relationships among different KM practices and organizational performance (OP) in terms of the four balanced scorecard (BSC) outcomes, i.e. learning and growth, internal process, customer satisfaction and financial performance, as a measure of OP. Design/methodology/approach A systematic review of peer-reviewed journal articles has been carried out of theoretical and empirical articles to understand the linkages between KM practices and OP, accessed mainly through sources, such as ProQuest, EBSCO host, Google Scholar and other e-databases. Measures of OP have also been extracted from the literature and grouped under the four BSC outcomes to gauge the gravity of the effect. An integrated conceptual framework helps to explore the relationship between the said variables. Findings This study provides a conceptual model of the effect of various KM practices on different aspects of OP measured through BSC. It contributes to organizations by helping them understand the importance of integration of the KM efforts to obtain desirable results. It will, for the first time, put the entire organization in perspective and help managers draw a bigger picture to understand the overall effect of KM practices. Research limitations/implications First, the KM practices shortlisted for this research are extensive but the list may not be exhaustive. Second, the model is not empirically proved. Findings of the study would help in creating a roadmap to enhance performance by a successful implementation of KM practices. Originality/value This paper contributes to KM literature by adding the fact that KM practices not only affect learning and growth perspective of an organization but also have far-reaching effects on OP in terms of customer service perspective, internal process perspective and financial perspective.


2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Changiz Valmohammadi ◽  
Mohsen Ahmadi

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a holistic approach regarding evaluation of knowledge management (KM) practices on organizational performance. The effects of seven critical success factors (CSFs), namely leadership role, organizational culture, KM strategy, processes and activities, training and education, information technology, and motivation and rewarding system, on organizational performance in the framework of four perspectives of balance scored card (BSC) approach were surveyed. Design/methodology/approach – The research hypotheses were raised based on the four perspectives of this approach, namely, growth and learning, internal processes, customer and financial. By literature review, CSFs of KM and organizational performance along with their items were identified in the framework of BSC’s perspectives. Based on these constructs and their items an instrument was designed and distributed among managers and employees of the subsidiary firms of Iran National Petrochemical Company (INPC). Reliability of the instrument was calculated by Chronbach’s α for the two sections of the instrument i.e. KM practices and organizational performance. Also, using factor analysis the construct validity of the questionnaire was approved. Finally, based on the hypotheses of the study and using structural equation modeling the impacts of KM practices on organizational performance were investigated. Findings – The results revealed that KM practices positively and meaningfully (though weak) impact overall organizational performance. This impact is significant only regarding growth and learning dimension and on the other dimensions is insignificant. Also, as customer and financial constructs were loaded on one factor based on the entity of their indicators we considered these two constructs as stakeholders construct. In addition, among the above mentioned seven CSFs, motivation and rewarding system obtained the lowest rank among the survey organizations. Research limitations/implications – The sample is restricted to only three companies, so gathering data from various parts of Iran including both manufacturing and service industries could increase the generalizability of the results obtained. Also, as in this study the data gathered were cross-sectional, a longitudinal study could help gain deeper understanding of the cause-and-effect relationship among the variables. Originality/value – The most significant gap in the literature is the lack of enough application of statistical and comprehensive methods like BSC that KM makes a difference to organizational performance. This study contributes to the field of KM by empirically investigating the impact of KM practices on various measures of organizational performance in order to prove the suitability of a comprehensive approach like BSC.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document