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

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. 1477-1501 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Dabic ◽  
Timothy Kiessling

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.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy Shea ◽  
Syed Aktharsha Usman ◽  
Sengottuvel Arivalagan ◽  
Satyanarayana Parayitam

Purpose The purpose of this study is to empirically examine knowledge management (KM) practices as a moderator in the relationship between organizational culture and performance. The effect of four types of organizational culture on organizational performance was studied. In addition to direct effects, most importantly, KM practices as a moderator in strengthening the culture-performance relationship were empirically examined. Design/methodology/approach A carefully crafted survey instrument was distributed and data was collected from 1,255 respondents from 10 information technology companies in India. After checking the psychometric properties of the instrument, this paper performs hierarchical regression to test hypotheses. Findings The results reveal that: cooperative culture, innovative culture, consistent culture and effectiveness culture were all positively and significantly related to organizational performance; KM practices were positively and significantly related to organizational performance, KM practices moderate the relationship between various dimensions of organizational culture and organizational performance. Research limitations/implications As with any survey-based research, the present study suffers from the problems associated with self-report measures. These are common method bias and social desirability bias. However, this study attempts to minimize these limitations by following appropriate statistical techniques. Practical implications This study contributes to both practicing managers and the literature on KM and organizational culture. The study suggests that managers use KM practices, which are all-pervasive and very important for improving organizational performance. The results highlight the importance of implementing KM practices in organizations. Originality/value This study provides new insights into the importance of KM practices in achieving sustained competitive advantage by achieving organizational effectiveness. To the knowledge, the importance of KM practices is underemphasized in organizational culture research.


Kybernetes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (9) ◽  
pp. 1942-1964 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mona Jami Pour ◽  
Mohammad Asarian

Purpose Despite the huge amount of studies that have investigated the strategy–performance relationships and knowledge management (KM)–performance relationships, there is little consensus regarding the nature of these connections. By reviewing related literature, some notable limitations and inconsistent results are highlighted in extant studies. To address these challenges, this study aims to explore the effects of strategic orientation and KM mechanisms on business performance. Design/methodology/approach The study conducted an empirical investigation of 227 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to explore the relationship between strategy−performance and KM−performance. Business strategy is conceptualized as a comparative construct with six dimensions, KM is conceptualized by two types of KM mechanisms of technical and non-technical KM mechanisms and business performance is measured by four dimensions of balanced scorecard (BSC). The cluster analysis was used to explore different aspects of these three constructs. Findings Using cluster analysis, the results indicate that firms with high level of analysis, defensiveness, futurity and proactiveness in strategic orientation have better performance and also the high level of both KM mechanisms another important finding shows that firms with more KM mechanisms have high performance and technical mechanisms have more predictor role on performance. Practical implications This research also has prescriptive implications for strategic managers and KM practitioners. The finding enhanced the understanding of the relationship between strategic orientations, KM and performance. The results assist managers to assess business performance regarding strategic orientations and KM mechanisms of the firms. Therefore, it helps firms to improve strategic resource allocation and exploit KM investment by considering ideal pattern of the performance. Originality/value By reviewing strategic management and KM literature, it is revealed that there are little studies about how the interaction of strategic orientation and KM influences business performance. The main contribution of the study is exploring the profile of the firms by considering their strategic orientation and KM mechanisms and their impact on business performance. This study provides an empirical evidence about interaction of strategic orientations, KM mechanisms and business performance in SME context, which is merely investigated in previous researches.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 365-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mercy Asaa Asiedu ◽  
Hod Anyigba ◽  
Kwame Simpe Ofori ◽  
George Oppong Appiagyei Ampong ◽  
John Agyekum Addae

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between transformational leadership, knowledge management capabilities, organizational learning and innovation performance in the context of higher education institutions. Design/methodology/approach Using a survey research design, data was collected from 219 respondents comprising faculty and administrative staff from two public and five private universities in Ghana. The data were analysed by using the partial least squares approach to structural equation modelling with the use of Smart PLS software. Findings The results revealed that transformational leadership significantly predicts knowledge management capabilities and organizational learning and also has a positive effect on innovation performance. Originality/value Although some studies have covered the theoretical and empirical analyses of links between transformational leadership, innovation performance and some knowledge management capabilities, this study examines the direct links between transformational leadership and knowledge management capabilities, on one hand, and transformational leadership and organizational learning on the other, as well as their overall effect on innovation performance, which has been less discussed in literature, particularly in the tertiary educational sector and in the Ghanaian context.


2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
pp. 242-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Cillo ◽  
Riccardo Rialti ◽  
Bernardo Bertoldi ◽  
Francesco Ciampi

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between knowledge management capabilities and successful open innovation within agri-food businesses. This particular piece of research focuses on agri-food businesses which utilize crowdfunding platforms. Design/methodology/approach The research adopts a survey-based methodology, which is useful in enhancing the generalization of results. The final sample includes 80 cases for the analysis. The model and the hypotheses were tested through a hierarchical regression model. Findings This research assesses the importance of knowledge management capabilities for successful open innovation in crowdfunding for agri-food businesses. In particular, it emerged that IT-based knowledge exploitation capabilities are enablers of open innovation strategies. Additionally, it emerged that knowledge exploration capabilities can positively mediate the relationship between IT-based knowledge exploitation capabilities and open innovation in the context of agri-food businesses. Originality/value To the authors’ best knowledge, few researchers have explored this topic and, as such, there is a need to better conceptualize this intriguing phenomenon and to provide empirical evidence to support it.


2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 1585-1600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riccardo Rialti ◽  
Giacomo Marzi ◽  
Andrea Caputo ◽  
Kayode Abraham Mayah

PurposeThis research unpacks the micro-mechanisms that exist between an organisation's ability to conduct big data analytics (BDA) and its achievement of strategic flexibility. Knowledge management capabilities and organisational ambidexterity have long been considered factors influencing the aforementioned relationship. In order to assess this, the authors build on dynamic capabilities as the main theoretical lens through which to examine.Design/methodology/approachStructural equation modelling (SEM) is the main methodological approach used in this research. A structural model was developed and tested based on 215 survey responses collected from managers of organisations in continental Europe.FindingsThe results indicate that BDA capabilities are a significant antecedent of an organisation's strategic flexibility. This relationship, however, is influenced by knowledge management capabilities and ambidexterity.Practical implicationsManagers wishing to properly exploit the potential of big data should invest in the elaboration of knowledge management processes across their organisation. This strategy can foster strategic flexibility.Originality/valuePrevious research has explored the theoretical links between big data, knowledge management and strategic flexibility. However, little attention has been paid to the quantitative investigation of the phenomenon.


Kybernetes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Kashif Imran ◽  
Tehreem Fatima ◽  
Ambreen Sarwar ◽  
Shahid Amin

PurposeThe purpose of this systematic review is to summarize the possible organizational outcomes related to knowledge management capabilities (KMCs). It aims at offering the modern-day dynamic organizations a path, through which they can utilize KMC at hand for gaining competitive advantage and positive organizational outcomes. The review is based on previous studies in the field of knowledge management and explains how KMCs are associated with various organizational outcomes.Design/methodology/approachA systematic approach was utilized to collect, examine, interpret and synthesize researches regarding KMCs and their usefulness for various organizational outcomes. The meta-synthesis method was adopted to review 106 research papers after careful selection.FindingsIt was evident from this integrated review that KMCs help in promoting organizational effectiveness, innovative ability, organizational change, value creation, competitive advantage, organizational learning and performance. Furthermore, the current review suggests research avenues and knowledge gaps in current literature to provide future researchers unique research opportunities.Originality/valueThe review revealed a profound opinion that organizations have to develop an optimal mix of KMCs to achieve better organizational outcomes. The study identified how KMCs set a basis and build positive support to enhance the key organizational outcomes such as organizational effectiveness, innovative ability, organizational change, value creation, competitive advantage, organizational learning and performance. However, cooperation bias is one of the most considerable limitations in research studies included in this systematic literature review.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Yang

PurposeThis study examines the impact of knowledge management capabilities on agility, adaptability and alignment (triple-A), drawing upon the nexus of the knowledge-based view and dynamic ambidexterity in the context of manufacturing industry in the USA. It also assesses the performance outcomes of triple-A capabilities in terms of operational and relational performance.Design/methodology/approachPath analysis was performed in this empirical study in the manufacturing industry.FindingsThe results show that knowledge management capabilities are conducive to the development of triple-A capabilities, which in turn lead to the improvement of operational and relational performance.Originality/valueThis study is grounded in the marriage of the knowledge-based view and dynamic ambidexterity to assess the combinative impact of knowledge management capabilities of knowledge acquisition and sharing through absorptive and desorptive capacities on agility and adaptability through knowledge exploration and alignment by knowledge exploitation in the pursuit of triple-A capabilities. This study unentangles the linkage between knowledge management capabilities and triple-As by theorizing the connection between absorptive/desorptive capacity and exploration/exploitation in terms of responsive and efficient supply chain respectively.


2016 ◽  
Vol 116 (3) ◽  
pp. 584-602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew L. Cooper ◽  
Joseph R Huscroft ◽  
Robert E. Overstreet ◽  
Benjamin T Hazen

Purpose – Knowledge management capabilities have proven to be key success factors for organizations within our increasingly information-based economy. Although knowledge management literature has a rich history, less is known about how an organization’s learning culture affects outcomes realized via knowledge management initiatives. Moreover, there is a dearth of understanding regarding how to successfully operationalize knowledge management activities in order to achieve performance in the dynamic logistics and supply chain management environment. Rooted in competence-based theory, the purpose of this paper is to examine the role that learning culture plays with regard to knowledge management capabilities, human capital, and organizational performance at logistics service providers. Design/methodology/approach – This study uses survey data from 448 managers and covariance based structural equation modeling to assess how knowledge management, learning culture, and human capital influence organizational performance. Findings – The results of this study indicate that knowledge management has a significant positive relationship with learning culture and human capital. There was also an indirect effect of knowledge management through learning culture on human capital and organizational performance. Interestingly, human capital did not have a significant relationship with organizational performance as hypothesized. Practical implications – The results support the vital role that leaders and managers have in creating a culture that is conducive to the success of knowledge management initiatives. Originality/value – This study goes beyond the simple direct relationship between knowledge management and personal and organizational outcomes that is usually examined by testing learning culture as an important mediator.


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