Designing an integrated methodology for knowledge management strategic planning

Developing a knowledge-based perspective of coordination in global software development

Purpose

This study aims to develop a model for coordination and communication overhead in distributed software development through case study analysis in the Indian outsourcing software industry. The model is based on business knowledge, which can be classified as domain, regulatory, strategic, business process and operation process knowledge as per existing literature.

Design/methodology/approach

Double case study method was used to verify an existing knowledge–management framework of software development from the literature. The stakeholders of both the cases were interviewed, and project documents were verified to reach conclusions.

Findings

The findings supported the business knowledge classification from the literature. The concept can be used to analyze the software project in a distributed environment.

Research limitations/implications

The research work findings are based only on two case studies. The study findings cannot be generalized and should be used as a learning tool. There can be large variations of project characteristics with differences in business knowledge requirements. The research shows the importance of business knowledge transfer in global software development.

Practical implications

Projects managers in the distributed software development environment can use the findings in project planning and work allocation for better control over cost and schedule, etc.

Originality/value

There is little research works attempted to study the business knowledge classification in the global software industry making the research novel.

Knowledge Management Processes and Performance: Key Role of IS Strategies in Knowledge Capture and Utilisation

This research examines the interrelation of knowledge generation (KG) and knowledge sharing (KC) and how they influence IT infrastructure (ITI) and strategic decision support systems (SDSS) to enhance business process performance (BPP) and firm performance (FP). Furthermore, the objective of this study is to emphasise the importance of applying information systems strategies (ISS) such as knowledge capture and utilisation to make better firm processes to boost firm performance in knowledge management process-intensive organisations. The study surveyed 261 Brazilian companies and used partial least squares path modelling to test the hypotheses proposed herein. The research findings showed that KG and KC influence ITI. Additionally, it also showed that ITI has full mediation in its relationship with KG and SDSS and partial mediation in its relationship with KC on the SDSS. Finally, BPP demonstrated full mediation in its relationship with SDSS and FP. The research findings contribute to firms understand how BPP and FP are affected through ISS embedded into knowledge and utilisation coupled with knowledge generation and sharing.

Knowledge Management and Sustainable Balanced Scorecard: Practical Application to a Service SME

Many works highlight the importance and added value of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in companies, as well as the role of Knowledge Management (KM) for their revitalization, but even more important is to ensure that all efforts and resources are aligned with the organization’s strategic objectives (Balanced Scorecard, BSC). The aim of this work is to integrate BSC, CSR and KM based on the results of two previous researches: one on BSC–CSR and the other on KM, both of a projective nature (description-action-contrast). The research carried out has made it possible to identify 45 KM indicators, 102 CSR indicators and their corresponding correlations with the strategic objectives and perspectives of the BSC. In addition, an Excel tool was designed and developed for SMEs that is customizable, intuitive and useful for decision-making, which allowed us to contrast the obtained results.

Examining the role of knowledge sharing on employee performance with a mediating effect of organizational learning

Purpose

The current world of knowledge has a demand for intellectual capital to position or prosper any business. Organizations are constantly looking for developing a pool of talent to gain a competitive advantage. The purpose of this study is to find out the contribution of knowledge sharing that enhances the performance of the employees. This study also exhibits a model for measuring the performance of the employee.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on the primary and secondary sources of data. This paper has collected 354 samples from the different information technology (IT) firms located in India. The data were analyzed through statistical package for the social sciences-23 and analysis of moment structures. Path analysis has been conducted to examine the independent and mediating effects on the dependent factor.

Findings

This study confirms the conceptual model with the data. The key contributors are organizational intelligence (OI), organizational learning and knowledge sharing and organizational culture. The performance of the employee is primarily based on organizational learning. OI, knowledge sharing and organizational culture are the major factors that create an environment for organizational learning.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that organizational learning stimulates the effect of knowledge management practices on employee performance. Apart from this OI affirms the learning culture for IT firms.

Originality/value

Drawing from the different theories, this is the first study where the role of OI, organizational culture and knowledge sharing simultaneously aligned and shows the effect on employee performance with the mediation role of organizational learning.

Knowledge strategy planning and information system strategies enable dynamic capabilities innovation capabilities impacting firm performance

Purpose

Many studies have not fully explored the relationship between knowledge and information system strategies (ISS) and their overall impact on firm performance (FP). In an attempt to address this knowledge gap, this study draws on the dynamic capabilities view, and on recent literature on knowledge strategy planning (KSP), and examines the alignment between KSP and ISS to enable dynamic capabilities innovation capabilities (DCIC) to gain FP.

Design/methodology/approach

The survey examined empirical data from 234 Brazilian companies using the partial least squares path modeling to test the hypotheses proposed herein.

Findings

The empirical results confirmed that both KSP and ISS have a positive impact on DCIC. Furthermore, the results indicated that FP was positively impacted through DCIC. The results indicated that the alignment between KSP and ISS positively impacts DCIC and ultimately FP.

Research limitations/implications

The data was collected from 234 Brazilian companies in a country classified as a developing economy. Future studies could investigate the impact of KSP and ISS on FP in developed economies. The practical implication of the study required managers to be knowledgeable about the value of alignment between KSP and IT capabilities involving more practitioners in the strategy-as-practice to create innovation capabilities and enhance FP.

Originality/value

This is one of the earliest studies that has investigated the relationships between KSP and ISS and their impact on FP within a developed economy context. The relationship between all constructs that have not been addressed previously contributes to extend the literature on KSP, ISS and dynamic capabilities view.

Toward an Integrated Framework of Corporate Knowledge Portals Vulnerabilities: Resolving KM Security Challenges

Recently, knowledge management (KM) has been considered as a strategic weapon in a competitive environment. Corporate knowledge portals are one of the popular KM mechanisms for managing organisational knowledge and implementing knowledge management systems (KMSs) which use the communication networks. Since these portals are one of the main sources of organisational knowledge, their security becomes more essential. Despite the importance of the knowledge portal security, there are few studies to identify and evaluate the vulnerabilities of knowledge portals. The main purpose of this study is to offer an integrated framework to recognise, categorise and prioritise the key knowledge portal vulnerabilities based on the ITU-TX-805 architecture in order to enhance the security of KMSs. To identify the knowledge portal vulnerabilities, related studies were reviewed and then using the survey method, the main categories and related items were weighted by KM experts. The results proposed a new framework for identifying and prioritising knowledge portal vulnerabilities by using ITU-TX-805 architecture. The framework contains three main categories of vulnerabilities such as network components, network activities, and network security dimensions. In KM initiatives implementation, knowledge sharing along with knowledge protection must be considered. The proposed framework identifies and prioritizes the main vulnerabilities of knowledge portals which must be considered to make secure knowledge sources. It can assist knowledge manager officers (CKOs) to identify vulnerabilities, strengthen the security of knowledge portals, and protect knowledge assets.

Knowledge management practices and systems in county governments in developing countries

Purpose

While several studies have indicated the critical role played by the ability of countries to exploit knowledge as an economic resource, it would appear that there have been very few studies conducted on understanding the practices adopted by governments in relation to exploring knowledge, particularly in Africa. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevailing knowledge management practices and technological solutions used by governments to support knowledge management.

Design/methodology/approach

To address the research objective of this study, semi-structured interviews and document analysis were used. The interviews were conducted with both senior and junior county officials from five counties in Kenya, with a total of 31 county officials participating. Further, various county documents were analysed both to seek convergence and corroborate the interview findings.

Findings

The study findings revealed that no systematic knowledge management practices existed in the county governments in Kenya, which were investigated. On the few occasions that the study did find evidence of knowledge management practices, these practices were isolated, informal, uncoordinated and rarely documented and/or communicated. Furthermore, the study found that there were inadequate policy frameworks in place to support knowledge management practices. The study also revealed a scarcity of relevant technological solutions tailored to support knowledge management practices.

Research limitations/implications

It was, thus, hoped that this research would promote an understanding of the prevailing local circumstances that hinder the effective utilisation of knowledge management practices and systems. The study recommends that county governments develop the capabilities required for creating and sustaining an enabling knowledge management environment through frameworks and policies that foster knowledge management practices and systems. The findings have practical implications for the way in which county governments in Kenya and other developing countries may improve their knowledge management practices and adopt appropriate technological solutions to support such practices.

Originality/value

Much of the existing literature on knowledge management is focussed on exploring such practices in large businesses. Studies centred specifically on the analysis of knowledge management practices in county governments in Africa, and how technological solutions may be used to build such practices are conspicuously lacking in the relevant literature.