Critical Success and Failure Factors of Knowledge Management Implementation in a Large Multinational Company

More and more companies are interested in implementing knowledge management. However, the majority of knowledge management initiatives will fail to have any significant impact. In this study, theories regarding knowledge management implementation and adoption are investigated further. The objective of this study is to deepen understanding regarding the critical factors that contribute to successful knowledge management adoption in large multinational companies. The study is formulated around the following four research questions: 1. What are the key success and failure factors in knowledge management implementation? 2. How can knowledge management adoption be improved at the individual, group and organizational levels of the company? 3. What are the critical factors that hinder knowledge management adoption in the case company? 4. How can the case company promote the adoption of knowledge management among company personnel? The methodology used in this study is a combination of a literature review and an explanatory, exploratory, qualitative single-case study. The literature review answers the first and second research questions. Based on the literature review, a framework is presented to illustrate the factors contributing to the success of knowledge management implementation. The framework also links together knowledge management implementation and adoption. The third research question is answered by revealing the relevant findings from 21 expert interviews and 2 online questionnaires with 42 respondents in total. By comparing and contrasting the results of the literature review with the findings of the empirical case study, the fourth research question is answered. The concrete outcomes of this study are a framework to elucidate the factors contributing to the success of knowledge management implementation, a case study highlighting the issues that hinder knowledge management adoption within the case company, and recommendations for the case company.

Diagnosing and developing knowledge management capability –Knowledge management capability in UPM-Kymmene Wood Oy

The purpose of this case study is to clarify how KM (knowledge management) capability is constructed through six different activities and to explore how this capability can be diagnosed and developed in the three case organizations. The study examines the knowledge management capability of the three factories in UPM-Kymmene Wood Oy, a major Finnish plywood producer. Forest industry is usually considered to be quite hierarchical. The importance of leveraging employee skills and knowledge has been recognized in all types of organizations – including those that mainly deal with tangible resources. However, the largest part of empirical knowledge management literature examines KM in so called knowledge-intensive or knowledge-based organizations. This study extends existing literature by providing an in depth case study into assessment and development of KM activities in these three organizations with little awareness of the KM discourse. This subject is analyzed through literature review, theoretical analysis and empirical research in the case organizations. The study also presents a structured method for evaluating KM activities of a company and for diagnosing the main weaknesses that should be developed in order to achieve KM excellence. The results help in understanding how knowledge management capability is constructed and provide insight into developing and exploiting it within an organization.

The Role of Knowledge Management in Developing Common Business Mindset in a Firm

Yrityksen yhteisellä liiketoimintanäkemyksellä tarkoitetaan organisaation kykyä ymmärtää liiketoiminnan olennaiset elementit, ja varmistaa, että työntekijöillä ja yrityksen asiakkailla on positiivinen ja yhdenmukainen kuva ja kokemus kyseisestä organisaatiosta. Tämän Pro-gradu – tutkielman tuloksena kehitettiin mittari, jolla yhteisen liiketoimintanäkemyksen tilaa voidaan yrityksessä mitata. Lisäksi tutkielma selvittää tietojohtamisen merkitystä yhteisen liiketoimintanäkemyksen kehityksessä. Tutkimusaineisto kerättiin Internet -kyselytutkimuksella, johon saatiin 158 vastausta. Aineisto analysoitiin tilastollisilla menetelmillä. Tutkimustulokset viittaavat vahvasti siihen, että tiedon jakamisella ja verkostoitumisella on tilastollisesti merkittävä vaikutus yhteisen liiketoimintanäkemyksen kehittymisessä. Tästä syystä yritysten tulisi integroida tietojohtamisen periaatteet strategioihinsa ja luoda systemaattinen malli, joka kannustaa organisaatiota tiedon jakamiseen ja verkostoitumiseen.

The Human Resources Strategy as the Key to Success of Knowledge Management in Companies Implementing New Technologies in the City of Montería

Knowledge management has been one of the topics of greatest interest in the field of organizational studies in recent years. The objective of this research is to analyze the adoptionof knowledge management practices and their relation to human resource policies. The study was carried out in companies operating in the city of Monteria from a quantitative analysis.

Prospects for the Development of Administration and Challenges for the Management of Organizations

Administration, as incipient science, presents a series of challenges to the organization’sdirector and for academy itself. The adaptation, the strategy, the communication skills andeven the ability to radiate in the organization in the organization a sense of accomplishment,are approaches that will shape the development of the organization and management as aset of knowledge that should facilitate the sustainability of the organization as a complexsystem.

On-farm management of rice genetic diversity: understanding farmers' knowledge on rice ecosystems and varietal development

The paper highlights the methodological development of identifying and characterizing rice (Oryza sativa L.) ecosystems and the varietal deployment process through participatory approaches. Farmers have intricate knowledge of their rice ecosystems. Evidence from Begnas (mid-hill) and Kachorwa (plain) sites in Nepal suggests that farmers distinguish ecosystems for rice primarily on the basis of moisture and fertility of soils. Farmers also differentiate the number, relative size and specific characteristics of each ecosystem within a given geographic area. They allocate individual varieties to each ecosystem, based on the principle of ‘best fit’ between ecosystem characteristics and varietal traits, indicating that competition between varieties mainly occurs within the ecosystems. Land use and ecosystems determine rice genetic diversity, with marginal land having fewer options for varieties than more productive areas. Modern varieties are mostly confined to productive land, whereas landraces are adapted to marginal ecosystems. Researchers need to understand the ecosystems and varietal distribution within ecosystems better in order to plan and execute programmes on agrobiodiversity conservation on-farm, diversity deployment, repatriation of landraces and monitoring varietal diversity. Simple and practical ways to elicit information on rice ecosystems and associated varieties through farmers’ group discussion at village level are suggested.

An integrated multi-stage model of knowledge management in international joint ventures: identifying a trigger for knowledge exploration and knowledge harvest

This paper examines the evolution of knowledge management from the initial knowledge migration stage, through adaptation and creation, to the reverse knowledge migration stage in international joint ventures (IJVs). While many studies have analyzed these stages (mostly focusing on knowledge transfer), we investigated the path-dependent nature of knowledge flow in IJVs. The results from the empirical analysis based on a survey of 136 Korean parent companies of IJVs reveal that knowledge management in IJVs follows a sequential, multi-stage process, and that the knowledge transferred from parents to IJVs must first be adapted within its new environment before it reaches the creation stage. We also found that only created knowledge is transferred back to parents.

The Methodological Influence of Peirce's Pragmatism on Knowledge Organization

Information and knowledge organization in Brazil has been historically influenced by theoretical linguistics. However, some aspects related to language theory and its interface with philosophy need to be further investigated, particularly the semiotic interpretation of information and knowledge organization processes. In order to advance a dialogue with the philosophy and semiotics of Charles Peirce (1839-1914), a theoretical and bibliographical study was carried out so as to understand and evaluate the contributions of the Peircean thought to information organization. It was found that several aspects of Peirce's work, viewed as a whole and not just semiotic concepts, suggest fundamental points to explain issues in information and knowledge organization. Basing on the analysis of Thellefsen's studies, this research presents some arguments aimed at reframing Peirce's pragmatism, which should no longer be mistakenly considered as a doctrine of practical results, but as a useful methodological approach for professionals dealing with knowledge organization in the field of Information Science.

Knowledge of firefighters with special paramedic training of the emergency management of avulsed teeth

Immediate replantation into the socket is the ideal procedure in cases of accidental avulsion of permanent teeth. In Brazil, firefighters with special paramedic training are in charge of providing first-aid care to victims of road accidents and might have to deal with tooth avulsions. This study assessed the knowledge of firefighters regarding the emergency management of avulsed teeth. Information was collected from a questionnaire submitted to 110 volunteer firefighters in seven cities in the São Paulo State (Brazil). The results revealed that 70.9% of the respondents did not know what tooth avulsion was; 53.6% did not know what tooth replantation was or defined it incorrectly; 60% would not act properly in tooth avulsion cases; 20.9% did not consider replantation of the avulsed tooth into the socket as a treatment option; the ideal time interval for tooth replantation was unknown to 40% of the interviewees; 90% of the participants answered that they would not be able to perform tooth replantation. Among those who considered themselves unable to perform tooth replantation, 47.3% chose saline as the best storage medium for an avulsed tooth, 21.8% chose milk, 3.6% chose the patient's mouth and 20% reported not knowing where to store the tooth; 81.8% of the firefighters reported not to have ever received any specific directions on tooth replantation and 100% of them considered this knowledge a requirement for first-aid care to accident victims. In conclusion, the knowledge of the surveyed firefighters regarding emergency management after tooth avulsion was unsatisfactory in several aspects that are important for the success of replantation procedures. Firefighters with special paramedic training should be educated on how to proceed in cases of dentoalveolar traumas and tooth avulsions in order to improve treatment prognosis and increase the survival rate of replanted teeth.