A Macro Practical Framework for Knowledge Management in Network Organizations

Abstract

Today’s world is entering the knowledge-based economy. In this economy, knowledge and intellectual capital management are among the most important assets of an organization. Implementing an efficient knowledge management strategy and transforming an organization into a knowledge-based one, is considered one of the fundamental qualifications for the success of the organizations that enter the knowledge-based economy. With the transformation of organizations, like network organizations that reshape from classic form into modern and modified form, the importance of knowledge management has been doubled and it has become one of the most fundamental issues and concerns in the management of these organizations. Many thinkers has identified that the execution and implementation of knowledge management in an organization are vital elements in knowledge management, while the other elements can be regarded as an introductory for preparing infrastructure and utilizing them to practical realization of knowledge management. When organizations utilize knowledge management the confidence in organization increases, communications become more effective, team work culture grows richer, responsibilities become more transparent, self-assurance increases, the administrative processes are codified more scientifically and the professional ethic will flourish. This study attempts to provide an in-depth study of library resources and propose a macro-model for knowledge management implementation in network organizations. The goal of network organizations is to utilize the macro-capacities completely while the preserve agility and flexibility, however the optimal use of the organization’s knowledge resources in trivial organizations within created networks will not be an easy task. After an thorough review of literature related to virtual organizations and networks and knowledge management in them, and also surveying the processes, details, advantages and limitations of knowledge management, and concentrating on main components of knowledge management in network organization, the proposed operational pattern for knowledge management in network organizations, which consists of key performance indicators in administration and implementation of knowledge management and the communication within the organization and also outside the organization.