Knowledge management and total quality management: foundations, intellectual structures, insights regarding evolution of the literature

The impact of quality management practices on knowledge management processes: a study of a social security corporation in Jordan

Purpose

This 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/approach

This 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.

Findings

Based 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/value

This 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.

Challenges of knowledge management in the public sector: evidence from the King Abdullah Award for Excellence in Jordan

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to undertake an exploration of the challenges related to knowledge management (KM) within public sector organisations in Jordan.

Design/methodology/approach

There was the adoption of a qualitative method to achieve the objective of the study, with content analysis undertaken on ten assessment reports, so the results of the content analysis could be validated. A total of 20 semi-structured interviews were conducted within the sample organisations. The sample was made up of ten public sector organisations that had participated at least twice within the King Abdullah Excellence Award with acknowledgement within their reports of failure to achieve results that were satisfactory for KM.

Findings

KM challenges identified reflect various aspects of different factors, such as organisational structure, culture, KM processes and the evaluation of KM. In practical terms, the main KM-related challenges for the Jordanian public sector are considered to be a lack of a culture of teamwork to support sharing and exchange of knowledge, lack of required documentation for the building of organisational memory needed for processes of KM, lack of training for KM, lack of clear vision and strategy for KM and lack of proper methodologies for the management of internal knowledge and weaknesses in the integration of information and data.

Originality/value

The study puts forward a conceptual model that can be used in assessing the challenges that managers face when they seek to implement KM in organisations within the public sector. The challenges of KM within the public sector have been studied widely, in general; however there is an importance to gaining better understanding of how to overcome those challenges. Compared with most of the existent studies, this particular research has offered detailed, specific insights into challenges for KM within the public sector, along with provision of a conceptual model that other researchers could use in the future.

Unleashing the Importance of TQM and Knowledge Management for Organizational Sustainability in the Age of Circular Economy

Despite the growing importance of the concept of circular economy, the case of developing countries remains under-explored. Against this backdrop, the present research aims to examine the association between the constructs of total quality management (TQM) and organizational sustainability (OS) with the mediating effect of knowledge management (KM) from the perspective of a circular economy. The data were collected from the manufacturing sector of a developing economy (n = 510) to serve the purpose of the current research through a self-administered questionnaire (paper-pencil technique). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed for hypothesis testing of the current survey. Six TQM dimensions were drawn from the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award (MBNQA) model. OS is composed of economic, social, and environmental sustainability, and KM is composed of four dimensions including acquisition, creation, sharing, and application of knowledge. The empirical examination suggests that TQM positively relates to OS, with KM playing a partial mediation role between this association. This study provides important insights for the management of the manufacturing industry of Pakistan on how to ensure organizational sustainability in the age of a circular economy by using the constructs of TQM and KM.

CSR intellectual structure in management and tourism

Purpose

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) research intellectual structures are analysed and compared on the basis of the main international journals of management and tourism.

Design/methodology/approach

Document co-citation, author co-citation and word co-occurrence are carried out using UCINET and NODEXL, software for social network analysis (SNA).

Findings

Differences and similarities between both research fields are provided, study limitations are pointed out and future research lines are suggested.

Originality/value

The main works concerning the topic of CSR are identified for each area of knowledge management and tourism. These are the basis for constructing the corresponding knowledge, and co-citation patterns among them are shown graphically.

Knowledge Management & It's Origin, Success Factors, Planning, Tools, Applications, Barriers and Enablers

Over of the past several years, there have been rigorous discussions about the significance of knowledge management (KM) within the organization and the society. The management of knowledge is endorsed as a significant and essential factor for organizational existence and maintenance of ambitious strength. This article provides an in-depth knowledge of factors affecting KM. Literatures from 1992 to 2018 are covered in this article, 169 research papers have been explored which are related to classification of knowledge, factors affecting KM, KM tools and its planning & application. Various frameworks related to the successful implementation of KM and KM implementation tools proposed by previous authors are presented in this research article. KM is defined, classification of KM is presented, factors affecting KM are shown and its implementation strategies & tools are elucidated in available literatures in discrete manner.

Knowledge management issues in the EFQM excellence model framework

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify knowledge as a key strategic resource within the EFQM excellence model. The study also analyses whether the EFQM model helps to create an adequate context for successful knowledge management (KM). A description is given of the synergies between both management approaches, with the purpose of reaching sustainable competitive advantages within organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review and a content analysis are carried out which show how the current version of the EFQM model includes the key aspects of the knowledge management systems (KMS) and its process. Also, the relationships and synergies between both considered management approaches are analyzed: quality management and KM.

Findings

After a detailed analysis of KM issues in the EFQM model, important synergies and complementary elements are appreciated between both management frameworks. Evidence is given of how the integration of both frameworks constitutes a dynamic capability that can lead organizations to attain sustainable competitive advantages.

Practical implications

An exhaustive review is given of the elements related to KM present in the EFQM model. In addition, companies are offered guidelines to be able to manage their knowledge through a model that is recognized and widespread in the business sphere.

Originality/value

The research develops the first content analysis of the process elements and KMS present in the whole structure of the EFQM model. Furthermore, it is shown how the integration of excellence and KM constitutes a dynamic capability for organizations based on continuous improvement, innovation and learning.