“I cannot feel your print”. How military strategic knowledge managers respond to digitalization

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Therese Heltberg
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Professional Roles ◽  
Strategic Knowledge ◽  
Strategic Decisions ◽  
Process Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Qualitative Research Study ◽  
Operational Processes ◽  
Depth Interviews

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how military strategic knowledge managers consider and respond to digitalization of operational processes in their revision of military knowledge management technologies. The research question is: which strategic considerations and professional concerns impact decisions about how far digitalization should be incorporated into Army planning doctrine?Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents material from a qualitative research study which observed the process of revising Danish Army Field Manual III. The empirical data include 12 in-depth interviews as well as documents related to the revision process. Data were analysed using a thematic approach.FindingsThe paper identifies and discusses strategic dilemmas arising from incorporating digitalization into planning doctrine. Two major areas of concern are addressed. The first involves considerations about the extent of digitalization, including concerns about risk and issues of timing regarding choices of specific digital solutions. The second involves potential limits of digitalization in relation to military notions of the role and identity of the commander. The article suggests that digitalization may impact on professional roles and identities and that strategic knowledge management developers need to be cognizant of this.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the literature in two ways. First, the paper draws attention to the notions of risk and timing in relation to strategic decisions on how far knowledge management technologies should make use of possibilities brought about by digitalization. Second, the paper provides insight into how digitalization may profoundly alter professional roles and identities.

scholarly journals Sustainable crowdfunding: insights from the project perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-302
Author(s):  
Natalia Maehle
Keyword(s):  
Community Engagement ◽  
Distinctive Feature ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Building Relationships ◽  
Distinctive Features ◽  
Sustainable Projects ◽  
Depth Interviews

PurposeThis paper explores the peculiarities of sustainable crowdfunding from the project perspective. The research question is: what are the distinctive features of sustainable crowdfunding, in terms of crowdfunding motivation, platform choice, crowdfunding costs and relationships with backers?Design/methodology/approachThe current study follows a qualitative approach, through conducting in-depth interviews with representatives of sustainable projects, which have had successful crowdfunding campaigns. The selected projects represent various industries and crowdfunding models.FindingsSustainable entrepreneurs have both financial and non-financial motivations for crowdfunding. A distinctive feature is the importance of community engagement, since the community spirit of crowdfunding is well suited to sustainable projects. The choice of the crowdfunding platform is more complex for sustainable entrepreneurs, as they need to consider the platform's sustainability. Sustainable entrepreneurs also have to put more effort into their communication activities with potential backers, to compensate for the intangibility of sustainability claims. Moreover, they need to have a greater focus on building relationships with backers due to both the community spirit of their projects and legitimacy issues.Originality/valueThe current paper contributes to the limited literature on sustainable crowdfunding and the literature on funding of sustainable businesses and can act as a foundation for further research in this field. Current findings also have high practical value. Crowdfunding platforms may use the insights provided here to better meet the needs of sustainable entrepreneurs, while sustainable entrepreneurs can better understand what they need to pay attention to in their crowdfunding campaigns.

The power of strategic knowledge management in the relationship between innovation and the performance of large manufacturing firms in Malaysia

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nagwan Abdulwahab AlQershi ◽  
Gamal Abdualmajed Ali ◽  
Hussein Abu Al-Rejal ◽  
Amr Al-Ganad ◽  
Ebrahim Farhan Busenan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Product Innovation ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Innovation Process ◽  
Process Innovation ◽  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
Strategic Knowledge ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Strategic Knowledge Management ◽  
The Way

Purpose This study aims to explore the interaction of strategic knowledge management (SKM) and innovation on the performance of large manufacturing firms (LMFs) in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach This study used a quantitative approach in investigating this interaction. Smart partial least-squares analysis was performed to test the hypotheses. Findings It was observed that administrative innovation, process innovation and product innovation were effective drivers of LMF performance. It was also ascertained that SKM has no moderating effect on the product innovation relationship with performance, although it does moderate the relationships between LMF performance and administrative innovation and process innovation, respectively. Research limitations/implications The main limitation of this study is its focus on Malaysian LMFs. It nevertheless contributes to the literature by extending understanding of SKM and innovation dimensions from multi-faceted perspectives. As this is largely ignored in the literature, the study paves the way for additional research. Practical implications The findings may be used as guidelines for chief executive officers, particularly on the way SKM and innovation can be developed for enhanced LMF performance, in the context of South Asian countries. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first empirical work to confirm the main drivers of SKM, including in the analysis the effect of administrative innovation, process innovation and product innovation and performance, in the context of the manufacturing sector. In support of an original conceptual model, the insights contribute to the literature on innovation, LMFs, SKM and emerging economies.

Experience as a source of knowledge in divestiture decisions: emerging issues and knowledge management implications

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 344-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enzo Peruffo ◽  
Lucia Marchegiani ◽  
Francesca Vicentini
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Firm Size ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Organisational Learning ◽  
Past Experience ◽  
Learning Effects ◽  
Strategic Decisions ◽  
Learning Mechanisms ◽  
Past Performance ◽  
Content Type

Purpose This paper aims to analyse the idea that experience acts as an antecedent in divestiture and triggers an organisational learning process that enables the divesting firm to convert experience into knowledge, increasing the probability that a firm will undertake subsequent divestitures. Design/methodology/approach The approach is quantitative. The research project used a case–control design, with a sample consisting of 274 divesting and non-divesting firms. Given the dichotomous nature of the dependent variable, the relations of the research model are tested using logistic regression. Findings The likelihood of a divestiture increases when firms have already had past experience of divestitures. Firm performance and firm size act as moderating variables, that is, the learning effects are weaker in firms with better past performance and also in larger firms. Research limitations/implications The study contributes to the literature on organisational learning and divestiture. In particular, the knowledge obtained from previous divestitures is positively related to subsequent ones. The results on firm size and performance as contingency factors make it possible to distinguish between the different learning mechanisms in proactive and reactive divestitures, as well as in larger and smaller firms. Accordingly, a two-level framework of experience and knowledge is proposed. Practical implications The results are of interest for practitioners who need a better understanding of the antecedents of their strategic actions in terms of past experience and knowledge. The study also offers insights into the knowledge management practices that fit into the proposed two-level framework of knowledge accumulation. Originality/value The originality of the study consists in the strong evidence of learning effects in divestitures that it finds. This study augments a promising line of research on the effect of experience in rare strategic decisions, enriching our understanding of the learning mechanisms associated with complex experiences.

scholarly journals Strategic knowledge management within subsidised entrepreneurial university-industry partnerships

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (12) ◽  
pp. 3280-3300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maribel Guerrero ◽  
Fernando Herrera ◽  
David Urbano
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Emerging Economies ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Strategic Knowledge ◽  
Entrepreneurial Universities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Industry Partnerships ◽  
Knowledge Management Practices ◽  
University Industry ◽  
Strategic Knowledge Management

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse how collaborative/opportunistic behaviours within subsidised university-industry partnerships are influencing the design/implementation of strategic knowledge management practices in emerging economies. Design/methodology/approach The proposed conceptual model was analysed with a retrospective multiple case study approach integrated by four subsidised entrepreneurial universities-industry partnerships of the Incentive Programme for Innovation from 2009 to 2014 in Mexico. Findings Entrepreneurial universities and industrial organisations confirm insights about dual collaborative-opportunistic behaviour within subsidised partnerships. The main effects of behaviours represent an increment in the knowledge management costs during the monitoring stages. The ex ante collaboration agreement anticipated and protected intellectual capabilities. Research limitations/implications This research contributes to the ongoing discussion about public administrations’ opportunistic behaviours in emerging economies (Tripsas et al., 1995), the effectiveness of the innovation and entrepreneurial programmes (Guerrero and Urbano, 2019b), and the link between dual behaviours (collaborative and opportunistic) and knowledge management practices (de Wit-de Vries et al., 2018). Practical implications New questions emerged about the effectiveness of subsidies as new modes of knowledge generation among entrepreneurial universities and industrial organisations, as well as the need for implementing strategic knowledge management practices in the public administration. Social implications For policymakers, the study presents insights about the effectiveness of public resources. Policymakers should understand challenges and re-define/re-incentivize the productive value chain as well as implement mechanisms to control opportunistic behaviours on potential subsidised firms. Originality/value The paper contributes to the academic debate about how entrepreneurial universities and industrial organisations are strategically managing their knowledge when participating in subsidised partnerships in emerging economies.

How and why medically-trained managers undertake postgraduate management training

2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 438-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erwin Loh
Keyword(s):  
Research Question ◽  
Management Training ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Management Competencies ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Chief Executives ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Purposeful Sampling ◽  
Management Positions ◽  
Depth Interviews

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address the research question using qualitative research methods: how and why medically trained managers choose to undertake postgraduate management training? Design/methodology/approach – This research used two qualitative methods to gather data. Both methods used purposeful sampling to select interviewees with appropriate management expertise, qualifications and experience. The first stage utilised convergent interviews and was exploratory. The five interviewees were managers and academics. The second stage used case research methodology and was confirmatory. The fifteen interviewees were medically qualified chief executives and chief medical officers. In total, 20 in-depth interviews were carried. Rigorous content analysis of data collected showed emergent themes. Findings – The first theme that emerged was that doctors move into management positions without first undertaking training. The second theme was that doctors undertake such training in the form of a masters-level degree and/or a specialist fellowship. The third theme was that effective postgraduate management training for doctors requires a combination of theory and practice. The fourth theme was that clinical experience alone does not lead to required management competencies. The fifth theme was that doctors choose to undertake training to gain credibility. Research limitations/implications – This research was exploratory and descriptive in nature and limited to analytical rather than statistical generalisation. Originality/value – This research has provided insights into the importance of understanding how and why doctors undertake postgraduate management training, and may assist policy makers and training providers in the development of such training for doctors.

scholarly journals Strategic knowledge management and enterprise social media

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 1288-1309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Archer-Brown ◽  
Jan Kietzmann
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Strategic Knowledge ◽  
Levels Of Abstraction ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Enterprise Social Media ◽  
Strategic Knowledge Management

Purpose This paper aims to examine if (and how), enterprise social media (ESM) can be understood as a strategic knowledge management phenomenon to improve organizational performance. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses intellectual capital theory and its functional building blocks to organize different types of the ESM platforms, based on secondary data. It then connects these findings to the underling intellectual capital tenets to introduce a conceptual model that explicates how ESM impacts strategic knowledge management, and vice versa. Findings This paper concludes that ESM provides a unique complement to traditional strategic knowledge management. The authors argue that ESM differs substantially from other contexts in which intellectual capital has been applied, and extend intellectual capital with three appropriate dimensions (human, social and structural capital). Given the potentially disruptive nature of ESM, this framework helps firms understand the nature of the changes that are needed. Originality/value The paper provides the first review of the business needs that are served by the software functions and management processes under the ESM banner. This original contribution takes the intellectual capital and strategic knowledge management discussions from their usual high levels of abstraction and relates them to the real world of ESM, focusing on outcomes. Its unique “Intellectual Capital Framework for the Socially Oriented Enterprise” includes distinct, testable propositions that provide a practical approach to strategically planning, implementing and optimizing ESM.

“You are not as localised as I need”: employability of Chinese returning graduates

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ly Thi Tran ◽  
Jill Blackmore ◽  
Mark Rahimi
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
International Student ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
Business Networks ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Overseas Study ◽  
China And India ◽  
Depth Interviews

PurposeInternational student employability has been accorded increased emphasis in the internationalisation agendas, especially in major destination countries as it shapes universities' attractiveness to prospective international students. Having insights into returning graduates' employability in their home country has become critical given that a majority of international graduates return home after their overseas study. This study responds to this critical need by examining how foreign credentials are valued by employers in the field of accounting in China, based on in-depth interviews with employers, alumni and policymakers.Design/methodology/approachThis study draws on a qualitative approach involving literature review and in-depth interviews with 28 key stakeholders: employers, returning graduates and policymakers in China and India. The key research question of the study is how foreign credentials are valued by employers in the field of accounting in China and India. This article focuses on the Chinese context. In-depth interviews with employers and policymakers focused on eliciting nuanced socio-cultural understandings as to perceptions and decisions associated with desirable graduate attributes and the relative value of credentials. Interviews with returning graduates aimed to understand how different capitals were mobilised to gain employment in the Chinese labour market.FindingsThe empirical findings of the study show that Chinese returning graduates could be seen to lack the localised knowledge needed to work in Chinese companies and ability to adapt to the local environment. However the possible development of a dual local and international guanxi through overseas study can be regarded as a marker of distinction in the home labour market. The associated value of such a dual guanxi signals the importance for Chinese international students to develop transnational networks while simultaneously maintaining their kinship, social and business networks locally during their overseas education.Originality/valueThe study provides fresh insights into a marked shift in China, with less of a preference for Western credentials, as compared to 10 years ago when overseas credentials were often regarded more favourably. Even though overseas study generally provides Chinese graduates with an exposure to international practices and global perspectives, whether such an overseas exposure and foreign language competency would be an advantage also depends on the business needs and sometimes the business model of organisations.

Toward ontology of designer-user interaction in the design process: a knowledge management foundation

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 201-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaehyun Park ◽  
Arkalgud Ramaprasad
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Collaborative Design ◽  
Research Question ◽  
User Interaction ◽  
User Interactions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Design Function ◽  
Research Gap ◽  
Effective Design

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore an ontology of designer-user interaction with a knowledge management foundation. To address this research gap, the authors ask the following research question: what types of knowledge on designer-user interactions are associated with design function and approach in creating effective design outcomes in a collaborative design process? Design/methodology/approach Based on ontology of a knowledge management foundation and 99 design projects, the authors conceptualized the ontology of designer-user interaction, which considers design role, function, approach and outcome as a knowledge of designer-user interaction in the design process. Findings Based on this analysis, the authors theorize an ontology of designer-user interactions with five dimensions: participant, role, function, design approach and design outcome. Also, this study presents a case study of how this ontology could be applied into the actual projects. Originality/value In this study, the authors explore an ontology of designer-user interaction with a knowledge management foundation, because previous interdisciplinary design studies have not formalized the types of designer-user interaction. To address this research gap, the authors ask the following research question: What types of knowledge on designer-user interactions are associated with design function and approach in creating effective design outcomes in a collaborative design process?

Leveraging intellectual capital through strategic knowledge management

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 1-3
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Strategic Knowledge ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Competitive Edge ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
The Right ◽  
Strategic Knowledge Management ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings Strategic knowledge management and elements of intellectual capital can influence a company’s competitive edge and ability to innovate. To achieve this most effectively the company needs a thorough self awareness and the ability to put together the right combinations of these factors. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

scholarly journals Strategic knowledge management and evolving local government

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 219-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harri Laihonen ◽  
Sari Mäntylä
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Public Management ◽  
Management Strategy ◽  
Strategic Knowledge ◽  
Performance Information ◽  
Knowledge Management Strategy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Public ◽  
Strategic Knowledge Management

Purpose The characteristics of new public management and new public governance are well known, but their impact on managerial knowledge needs and the implementation of knowledge management in local government remains unclear. The purpose of this paper is to elaborate the key elements of a public organization’s knowledge strategy and shows how knowledge management can support public management. Design/methodology/approach A case study on the application of an action research process was conducted to study how the City of Tampere in Finland aimed to overcome challenges in utilizing performance information by applying the ideas of knowledge management. Findings The study suggests that a holistic knowledge management strategy promotes the use of performance information by providing a systematic management framework for gathering and utilizing the information. Practical implications Four factors appear critical for strategic knowledge management in local government. First, it should be driven by the city’s strategy. Second, it should be carefully integrated into the general management system. Third, clear processes and responsibilities for refining the data are needed. Fourth, the quality of the data must be guaranteed. The results also emphasize the roles of management culture and continuous performance dialogue. Originality/value This paper makes two contributions. First, it extends the analysis of a knowledge management strategy to public management, and second, it provides a practical illustration of the development process, where knowledge was put into prime focus in developing public management.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document