Knowledge management and hybridity of institutional logics in public sector

A systematic review on the roles of knowledge management in public sectors: Synthesis and way forwards

The main objective of this study is to examine and synthesise the role of knowledge management in the public sector. The study applied the systematic review technique of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) to evaluate the role of knowledge management in the public sector using 33 selected web of science core collection journal articles. The study acknowledged that different theories have been applied by the scholars using different research methodologies. The articles published in the stated year show progressive increment, and the authors used different research methods to undertake a study on KM in the public sector. In this review, three research themes in KM research have been identified. Knowledge management for organisational improvement, KM for citizens' satisfaction, and KM for collaborative innovation management are the main research themes identified in this systematic review.

Knowledge management in a regional integrated health and social care system

Purpose

This article analyses a major healthcare and social welfare reform establishing new regional and integrated wellbeing services counties in Finland. The authors approach the reform and service integration as a knowledge management (KM) issue and analyse how KM appears and contributes in the context of integrated care, specifically in the process of integrating social and health care.

Design/methodology/approach

The article analyses the case organisation's KM initiatives in light of the integrated care literature and recognises the tasks and requirements for effective KM when building integrated health and social care system. The empirical research material for this qualitative study consisted of the case organisation's strategy documents, the results of an external maturity assessment, KM workshop materials and publicly available documentation of the Finnish health and social care reform.

Findings

This study identifies the mechanisms by which KM can support health and social services integration. At the macro level, national coordination and regional co-operation require common information structures. At the meso level, a shared regional strategy with shared objectives guides both organisational decision-making and collaboration between professionals. At the micro level, technology supported and data-driven planning of service chains complements the experiences of professionals and may help remove obstacles to integration.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature on integrated care by providing a more comprehensive view of the role and tasks of knowledge and KM when reforming health and social services than approaches focussing solely on health informatics and internal efficiency.

Why do rewards fail to motivate knowledge sharing behavior among employees?

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the factors that lead to the failure of some rewards to induce knowledge sharing behavior among employees, with much focus on employees’ attitudes and leadership’s knowledge of employees’ preferences, and presents a model that depicts the linkages.

Design/methodology/approach

To investigate why the provision of some rewards fails to induce knowledge sharing behavior among employees, this study uses the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses framework to identify and analyze 56 articles published from 2000 to 2021.

Findings

Knowledge sharing is positively linked to organizational performance. Further, employees’ negative attitudes toward a reward system negatively relate to knowledge sharing behavior. Furthermore, management’s lack of knowledge of employees’ preferences regarding rewards leads to the provision of incorrect rewards that do not enhance knowledge sharing behavior. Finally, a conceptual model depicting the linkages among the variables under consideration has been presented.

Research limitations/implications

Through the present study, employees’ attitudes toward rewards and leadership’s knowledge of employees’ preferences have been presented as critical factors that can lead to the failure of some rewards to induce knowledge sharing behavior. Further, the conceptual framework that can guide managers and leaders in strategizing on how best to develop and implement correct reward systems has been presented.

Originality/value

The present study is a significant contribution to the literature by focusing on the negative side of rewards toward knowledge sharing behavior with a focus on employees’ attitudes and leadership’s awareness of employees’ preferences regarding rewards.

Effects of knowledge management on the management of health and social care: a systematic literature review

Purpose

The purpose of this study is twofold. First, it suggests that knowledge management (KM), as an academic discipline and managerial practice, provides valuable perspectives and tools to help health and social care management cope with both existing and future challenges. Second, it reviews the existing evidence on the effects of KM on the management of health and social care. Based on the results of the review, an evaluation framework for the effects of KM is proposed.

Design/methodology/approach

The literature review was conducted using the guidance of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement to search the Web of Science and SCOPUS databases. The search terms included “knowledge management”, “healthcare” and “effect.” Academic articles published between 2010 and 2020 were included.

Findings

The study identifies six main categories among the effects of KM on the management of health and social care as follows: enhanced understanding of customer needs, improved organizational performance, better targeted decision-making, improved quality of service, behavioral or cultural change and improved risk management.

Originality/value

This study contributes by summarizing the literature on the effects of KM on the management of health and social care and proposing avenues for future research in this area.