The central role of knowledge management in business operations

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 1117-1139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Chatzoudes ◽  
Prodromos Chatzoglou ◽  
Eftichia Vraimaki
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Management Process ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Organisational Climate ◽  
Innovative Culture ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – Knowledge Management (KM) is a contemporary research field of high interest for both academics and practitioners. For more than 15 years, successful companies have used KM as their most valuable source of competitive advantage. The purpose of this paper is attempt to extend the existing empirical approaches (research models), by focusing on the process of KM and its diffusion throughout the organisation. Design/methodology/approach – The present study proposes a newly developed conceptual framework that adopts a four-step approach, highlighting four areas of interest that have never been simultaneously examined before: knowledge antecedents, KM process, KM outcomes (satisfaction from the KM process) and individual (employee) outcomes. The proposed conceptual framework is tested, using a structured questionnaire, in a sample of 211 bank employees. The reliability and the validity of the questionnaire were thoroughly examined, while research hypotheses were tested using the “Structural Equation Modelling” technique. Findings – The results revealed that companies with enhanced innovative culture and an organisational climate that facilitates cooperation between employees tend to promote and ultimately maximise knowledge diffusion. Moreover, a contribution of the present study is the empirical confirmation of the relationship between the proposed factor “satisfaction from the knowledge management process” and both organisational commitment and job satisfaction. Research limitations/implications – A limitation stemming from the adopted methodology is the use of self-report scales to measure the factors (constructs) of the proposed model. Moreover, the present paper lacks a longitudinal approach, since it provides a static picture (snapshot) of the application of KM within enterprises. Practical implications – The paper highlights-specific areas (factors) that companies should enhance in order to harvest the potential benefits of KM. According to the empirical findings, organisations should focus on their human capital when managing their knowledge processes. After all, employee satisfaction from the KM process is found to be crucial for enhancing their job satisfaction and job performance. Originality/value – The paper proposes an enhanced conceptual framework that incorporates critical issues concerning the successful implementation of KM, thus, providing valuable tools for decision makers and academics. Its originality lies in the nature of its approach. More specifically, the present study examines the impact of KM on individual-level (employee), something that rarely appears in the relevant literature. Additionally, it incorporates “satisfaction from the knowledge management process” as a significant outcome of the KM process, thus, enriching the literature of the field. Finally, it investigates the impact of three contextual factors (innovative culture, organisational climate, inter-functional coordination) on KM process (externalisation, internalisation, socialisation, combination), adopting an approach that acknowledges KM as a function (factor) that transmits contextual influence onto individual effectiveness. The results of the study may be generalised in other sectors with similar characteristics (knowledge-intensive and learning organisations, service sector companies, etc) and in other developed countries whose financial institutions face similar challenges as the ones in Greece.

The impact of ISO 9000 certification on firms’ financial performance

2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prodromos Chatzoglou ◽  
Dimitrios Chatzoudes ◽  
Nikolaos Kipraios
Keyword(s):  
Financial Performance ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Iso 9000 ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between the acquisition of an ISO 9000 certification and the overall financial performance of the certified firms. More specifically, the study proposes a multidimensional conceptual framework, including “customers’ demand”, “ISO adoption”, “operation efficiency”, “market efficiency” and “overall financial performance”. Such a multidimensional approach has randomly been explored in the existing literature, making the examination of the proposed conceptual framework an interesting research topic. Design/methodology/approach – The proposed conceptual framework was tested on a sample of Greek ISO 9000-certified companies of various economic sectors. Quality managers were used as key respondents. The final sample consisted of 168 companies. The reliability and the validity of the questionnaire were thoroughly examined. Empirical data were analyzed using the structural equation modelling technique. The findings are based on the 2000 version of the ISO series, which is generally accepted and has widespread use, as it has eliminated most of the disadvantages of the 1994 version. The present study is empirical (it is based on primary data), explanatory (examines cause and effect relationships), deductive (tests research hypotheses) and quantitative (includes the analysis of quantitative data collected with the use of a structured questionnaire). Findings – The findings of the study provide strong evidence that ISO 9000 implementation is highly associated with improvements in overall financial performance. Moreover, it was found that ISO implementation is directly associated with significant improvements in quality awareness, operations execution, market share, customer satisfaction and sales revenue. Finally, customers’ demand was not found to be the most important motivation for implementing an ISO certification. Rather, it seems that companies seek for quality improvement due to internal motives. Research limitations/implications – A limitation stemming from the implemented methodology is the use of self-report scales to measure the constructs of the proposed model. Moreover, the present paper lacks a longitudinal approach, since it is cross-sectional and provides a static picture of ISO implementation. Practical implications – The paper makes an analytical effort in order to point out areas that companies should emphasize in order to successfully implement ISO 9000 and, therefore, harvest its potential benefits. Certain practical implications are offered in the final part of the paper. Originality/value – The paper proposes an enhanced conceptual framework that examines vital issues concerning the successful implementation of ISO 9000, thus, providing valuable outcomes for decision makers and academics. Moreover, the results of the study may be generalized in other developed countries whose economy faces similar significant challenges as Greece.

Organizational culture and knowledge management processes: case study in a public university

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iman M. Adeinat ◽  
Fatheia H. Abdulfatah
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Organizational Culture ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Public University ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Management Process ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Processes ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Knowledge Management Processes

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine knowledge management interrelationships in higher education institutions and to assess the impact of the university’s culture on knowledge management processes: creation, dissemination, exchange and application. Design/methodology/approach The proposed model establishes the relationships between organizational culture (OC) and knowledge management processes in a single framework. The study used the organizational culture assessment instrument to determine the culture type and used structural equation modeling to assess the underlying relationships between knowledge management process and OC. Findings The results of the factor analysis used in this study suggest that adhocracy organizational culture, in which an organization is characterized by emphasis on individual initiative and employee empowerment, may not necessarily affect all knowledge management processes equally. In particular, an organization’s culture principally influences the knowledge creation process, followed by knowledge exchange, in a public university setting. Originality/value The study provides a comprehensive outlook on the effect of adhocracy culture in higher education on the knowledge management process through the lens of one cultural context. In addition, this is the first study that explores the OC effect on knowledge management process in a Saudi public university.

Investigating the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies

2015 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 265-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Chatzoudes ◽  
Dimitrios Papadopoulos ◽  
Efstathios Dimitriadis
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Behavioral Intention ◽  
Consumer Perceptions ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between consumer perceptions about large companies and behavioral intention toward buying products from these companies. It is hypothesized that the better the perceptions, the higher the behavioral intention. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies are proposed as the perfect tool to improve consumer perceptions and, hence, increase the customer base of large organizations. Such an approach has randomly been explored in the existing literature, making the examination of the proposed conceptual framework of the study an interesting research topic. Design/methodology/approach – The proposed conceptual framework was tested on a sample of Greek consumers. The final sample consisted of 454 adult consumers. The reliability and the validity of the newly developed questionnaire were thoroughly examined. Empirical data were analyzed using the “Structural Equation Modeling” technique. Findings – The results of the quantitative research highlighted the negative perceptions of Greek consumers toward large companies but, at the same time, revealed the statistically significant positive effect of certain dimensions of consumer perceptions on behavioral intention. In more detail, “interest toward community and employees” and “contribution to economic prosperity” seem to enhance behavioral intention, with the first being the most important factor. Research limitations/implications – A limitation stemming from the implemented methodology is the use of self-report scales to measure the constructs of the proposed model. Moreover, as the measurement of consumer perceptions has never been attempted in the existing literature, the items used to measure this construct were created after an extensive review of theoretical papers, failing to incorporate scales that have been already tested for their reliability. Practical implications – Using the findings of the empirical analysis as guiding lights, the present study proposes certain measures for large organizations. Highly proposed policies are offered in the final part of the paper. These policies are connected with enhancing the perceived interest of the company toward its community and employees. Originality/value – The present paper proposes a conceptual framework that examines CSR under a context that has been randomly examined before. It goes beyond theoretical principles and approaches issues that are vital for large organizations. Moreover, the results of the study may be generalized in other developed countries with similar economic realities (e.g. Spain, Italy, Portugal and Ireland).

Role of collaborative culture and knowledge management process for stimulating radical and incremental innovation: a comparative moderation approach

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Usman Shehzad ◽  
Jianhua Zhang ◽  
Phong Ba Le
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Organizational Support ◽  
Incremental Innovation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Management Process ◽  
Collaborative Culture ◽  
Innovation Capability ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe primary objective of this study is to assess the role of a collaborative culture in the organization’s knowledge management process (KMP) and how it is associated with radical and incremental innovation under the moderating role of ownership formapjm in Pakistani firms.Design/methodology/approachThis research used the quantitative method and structural equation modeling approach to examine hypotheses with data obtained by the survey from 280 participants in 85 Pakistani firms.FindingsThe findings of this study indicate that the KMP significantly mediates between collaborative culture and two specific types of innovation, namely radical innovation and incremental innovation. In addition, the ownership form can serve as a moderator in the relationship between KMP and innovation capability.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research should explore the moderating impact of other strategic or behavioral factors, such as self-efficacy, job experience, education level, optimism and organizational support, to better clarify the association between these latent constructs.Practical implicationsThis research provides leaders with a better view of the mechanism of knowledge management and the impact of ownership form and possible influences in their organizations to foster innovation capabilities.Originality/valueThis paper has prompted theoretical and practical attempts on innovation management theory that allow firms to recognize the necessary factors and processes to improve the firm’s innovation capability.

scholarly journals The impact of knowledge management on job satisfaction

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 621-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aino Kianto ◽  
Mika Vanhala ◽  
Pia Heilmann
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Knowledge Worker ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to propose that knowledge management (KM) could be a way to nurture job satisfaction and examine how KM can increase individual employees’ job satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach A theoretical model concerning the connections between five facets of KM (knowledge acquisition, knowledge sharing, knowledge creation, knowledge codification and knowledge retention) and job satisfaction is proposed. It is then empirically tested with a structural equation modelling partial least squares analysis of a survey data set of 824 observations, collected from the members of a Finnish municipal organisation. Findings Existence of KM processes in one’s working environment is significantly linked with high job satisfaction. Especially intra-organisational knowledge sharing seems to be a key KM process, promoting satisfaction with one’s job in most employee groups. Interestingly, significant knowledge-based promoters of job satisfaction differ as a function of job characteristics. Practical implications KM has a strong impact on employee job satisfaction, and therefore, managers are advised to implement KM activities in their organisations, not only for the sake of improving knowledge worker performance but also for improving their well-being at work. Originality/value This paper produces knowledge on a type of consequence of KM that has been largely unexplored in previous research, individual job satisfaction. Also, it promotes moving the KM literature to the next stage where the impact of KM practices is not explored as a “one size fits all” type of a phenomenon, but rather as a contingent and contextual issue.

Perceptions of corporate social responsibility, organizational commitment and job satisfaction

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Closon ◽  
Christophe Leys ◽  
Catherine Hellemans
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Organizational Commitment ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Affective Organizational Commitment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – This paper aims to, first, investigate the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR)’s various dimensions on organizational commitment and job satisfaction, and, second, to examine the moderating role of employee expectations in this relationship. Studies have increasingly focused the attention on the links between perceptions of CSR and employees’ attitudes. However, a majority of studies do concentrate on internal CSR impact. Design/methodology/approach – A field study based on data from 621 workers. The constructs were measured by validated self-report questionnaires. Findings – The results show that ethical and legal internal and external practices significantly influence the affective organizational commitment. The results also indicate that job satisfaction is positively influenced by internal and external ethico-legal practices as well as by philanthropic practices. Nonetheless, the role of expectation as moderator could not be demonstrated. This matter is discussed in the section dedicated to the limitations of the study. Originality/value – The originality of the contribution is undoubtedly to have integrated the concept of citizen-worker in this research on CSR.

The impact of leadership on trust, knowledge management, and organizational performance

2017 ◽  
Vol 117 (3) ◽  
pp. 521-537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Koohang ◽  
Joanna Paliszkiewicz ◽  
Jerzy Goluchowski
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Effective Leadership ◽  
Linear Connection ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Path Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Processes ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Knowledge Management Processes

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to build a research model that examines the impact of leadership on trust, knowledge management and organizational performance. Design/methodology/approach An instrument containing six constructs (leadership: leading organization; leadership: leading people; leadership: leading self, trust, knowledge management and organizational performance) was designed and administered to subjects from all levels of management in various organizations in nine regions of the USA. Collected data were analyzed using partial least squares path modeling to test the hypotheses. Findings The study’s findings revealed positive and significant linear connection among leadership (leading organization, leading people and leading self), trust, knowledge management and organizational performance. Practical implications The findings imply that effective leadership (leading organization, leading people and leading self) contributes to elevated trust among people, promotes the successful implementation of knowledge management processes, and in turn enhances organizational performance. Therefore, leadership training and development must be a top strategic priority for any organization. Originality/value This study enriches the literature by demonstrating that effective leadership stands as the bedrock of the elevated trust, the successful knowledge management processes and the enhanced organizational performance.

Gauging the impact of knowledge management practices on organizational performance – a balanced scorecard perspective

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vikas Gupta ◽  
Meenu Chopra
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Customer Service ◽  
Balanced Scorecard ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Internal Process ◽  
Ebsco Host ◽  
The Impact

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.

The impact of organizational factors on E-CRM success implementation

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chi Nguyen Thi Khanh ◽  
Le Thai Phong ◽  
Kien Dinh Cao
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Data Quality ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Customer Orientation ◽  
Organizational Factors ◽  
Customer Relationship ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to analyze the effects of organizational factors on electronic customer relationship management (e-CRM) successful implementation. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected through a structured questionnaire survey conducted in Vietnam. The dataset consists of 241 valid responses by individuals working at Vietnamese airlines. Correlation analysis and structural equation modeling were used to examine the causal relationships among organizational factors, customer orientation, knowledge management, data quality and CRM strategy. Findings The result shows that organizational factors have influence on e-CRM success. However, there are other factors needed to be more considered that are customer orientation having the most influence, following by knowledge management and technology. Still other factors have indirect effect on e-CRM success such as data quality and CRM strategy. Originality/value This study is among the first to examine an integrated model depicting the direct and indirect effects of organization factors on e-CRM success. From this perspective, this paper provides an improved understanding of how customer orientation and organizational factors, technology and knowledge management influences airlines applying e-CRM. This study also provides several implications for practice. The paper suggests airline providers and marketing managers, especially those in Vietnam, focus more on customer orientation activities. The paper also recommends that airlines should pay attention to its organizational structure in line with its customer-orientation strategy.

The role of innovation in building competitive advantages: an empirical investigation

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prodromos Chatzoglou ◽  
Dimitrios Chatzoudes
Keyword(s):  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Empirical Investigation ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Competitive Advantages ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Purpose Nowadays, innovation appears as one of the main driving forces of organisational success. Despite the above fact, its impact on the propensity of an organisation to develop and sustain a competitive advantage has not yet received sufficient empirical investigation. The purpose of this paper is to enhance the existing empirical literature by focusing on the antecedents of innovation and its impact on competitive advantage. It proposes a newly developed conceptual framework that adopts a three-step approach, highlighting areas that have rarely been simultaneously examined before. Design/methodology/approach The examination of the proposed conceptual framework was performed with the use of a newly developed structured questionnaire that was distributed to a group of Greek manufacturing companies. The questionnaire has been successfully completed by chief executive officers (CEOs) from 189 different companies. CEOs were used as key respondents due to their knowledge and experience. The reliability and the validity of the questionnaire were thoroughly examined. Empirical data were analysed using the structural equation modelling technique. The study is empirical (based on primary data), explanatory (examines cause and effect relationships), deductive (tests research hypotheses) and quantitative (includes the analysis of quantitative data collected with the use of a structured questionnaire). Findings Results indicate that knowledge management, intellectual capital, organisational capabilities and organisational culture have significant direct and indirect effects on innovation, underlining the importance of their simultaneous enhancement. Finally, the positive effect of innovation on the creation of competitive advantages is empirically validated, bridging the gap in the relevant literature and offering avenues for additional future research. Originality/value The causal relationship between innovation and competitive advantage, despite its significant theoretical support, has not been empirically validated. The present paper aspires to bridge this gap, investigating the impact of innovation on the development of competitive advantages. Moreover, the present study adopts a multidimensional approach that has never been explored in the existing innovation literature, making the examination of the proposed conceptual framework an interesting research topic.

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