Adoption Of Knowledge Management Systems Research Articles

Examining the Varying Influence of Social and Technological Aspects on Adoption and Usage of Knowledge Management Systems

Knowledge management strives for effective capture and application of organizational knowledge, a resource imperative in sustaining organizations. To better achieve knowledge management initiatives, examination of factors influencing adoption and usage of knowledge management systems (KMS) are of great interest. Implementation of technological solutions considered organizational innovation is subject to potential problems of resistance, implying analysis of social factors equally important to technological factors. With Innovation Diffusion, Theory as a foundation, this research examines factors influencing adoption and usage of KMS. The model is extended to include Reciprocity Expectation, an important factor affecting knowledge management processes. Results indicate that some factors are important in determining adoption while others are important for continued usage. This research emphasizes careful consideration and re-evaluation of both social and technological factors throughout all stages of technology implementation; more specifically, Reciprocity Expectation may be an important factor affecting length of adoption, but insignificant in determining continued usage.

Knowledge management system adoption: exploring the effects of empowering leadership, task-technology fit and compatibility

Knowledge management system (KMS) is emerging as a powerful source of competitive advantage, and plays an important role in managing an organisational knowledge. Therefore, how to improve the success rate for adopting a KMS becomes important. This study applies a technology acceptance model as its theoretical framework. Critical external variables, empowering leadership, task-technology fit (TTF) and compatibility are proposed as significant contributors to KMS. To test the proposed model, data were collected through a questionnaire survey sent to IT managers of 500 large companies in Taiwan. The results indicate that the perceptions of usefulness, ease-of-use and compatibility significantly affect behavioural intention. Empowering leadership, TTF and compatibility are significant predictors of perceived ease of use (PEOU); however, perceived usefulness is only influenced by compatibility and PEOU. Further, there is a positive and significant relationship between TTF and compatibility. Finally, this study also discusses the implications for practitioners.

Knowledge management adoption and assessment for SMEs by a novel MCDM approach

This paper aims to clarify the misunderstanding of high expenditure on knowledge management systems adoption, and provides a novel approach for the most emergent knowledge management components to catch up to the pace of their rivals for the late adopters of knowledge management systems. This paper adopts MCDM (Multiple Criteria Decision Making) approaches to solve this KM adoption problem, and ranks the gaps of the KM aspects in control items to achieve the aspired level of performance. The findings demonstrate that the knowledge management gaps within the service industry are higher than the gaps within the IC (Integrated Circuit) and banking industries. After normalization and computation, the knowledge management gap of the service industry is 0.4399(1), the knowledge management gap of the IC (Integrated Circuit) industry is 0.3651(2), and the knowledge management gap of the banking industry is 0.2820(3). The findings also show that the criteria for weighting in different industry sectors are quite different; and the adoption strategies for different industry sectors should be considered separately according to the SME industry sectors.

Knowledge Management Systems Diffusion in Chinese Enterprises

With the recognition of the importance of organizational knowledge management (KM), researchers have paid increasing attention to knowledge management systems (KMS). However, since most prior studies were conducted in the context of Western societies, we know little about KMS diffusion in other regional contexts. Moreover, even with the increasing recognition of the influence of social factors in KM practices, there is a dearth of studies that examine how unique social cultural factors affect KMS diffusion in specific countries. To fill in this gap, this study develops an integrated framework, with special consideration on the influence of social cultures, to understand KMS diffusion in Chinese enterprises. In our framework, we examine how specific technological, organizational, and social cultural factors can influence the three-stage KMS diffusion process, that is, initiation, adoption, and routinization. This study provides a holistic view of the KMS diffusion in Chinese enterprises with practical guidance for successful KMS implementation.

Issue placement affecting factors for Knowledge Management Systems initiaition

Lots of literature discusses Information System/Information Technology adoption or diffusion. However, few studies research the initiation stage of organisational innovation process. Without entering into agenda, organisational innovations issues are not legitimated for further organisational action. Therefore, this study explored factors affecting Knowledge Management Systems (KMSs) issue placement into organisational agenda, based on perspectives of issue selling and agenda building. The quantitatively testified results verified the impact of perceived issue salience and the relatedness between agenda placement of KMSs issue and KMSs adoption. For practical KMSs proponents in organisations, to facilitate KMSs adoption is first to understand how the innovational issue is perceived.

Investigation of the application of KMS for diseases classifications: A study in a Taiwanese hospital

Recently, there has been much interest in knowledge management within leading businesses. A saying holds true in regard to knowledge management systems (KMS) ''no measurement-no management''. Without accurate measurement it is impossible to gauge the actual performance and value of KMS. In this study, we have used a survey to investigate the effects of KMS for disease classification in a major Taiwanese medical center. Structural modeling techniques were applied to the data collected by questionnaires from 163 KMS system users. The results exhibited a good fit with the data and appeared to be superior in explaining the effectiveness and influence of KMS adoption. These results and conclusions serve as a reference to determine whether or not to further extend a full-scale KMS in both Medicare and administrative affairs.

The Problems of Embeddedness: Knowledge Transfer, Coordination and Reuse in Information Systems

This research examines the knowledge management challenge underlying technology use. It proposes to examine the key question: how can knowledge management problems and technology adoption difficulties be analysed through experts' practices embedded in their work contexts? The problems of knowledge transfer, coordination and reuse are investigated by examining experts' practices and work contexts. The inquiry is grounded in a qualitative case study of a knowledge management system designed to support maintenance work performed by two groups of engineers in a semiconductor-fabrication equipment company. The findings illustrate two contrasting outcomes: the equipment engineers found the system to be useful; the field engineers considered it to be irrelevant to their work contexts. An analysis of the fabrication process (the technical context), engineers' professional communities (the social context), and the pace of product/process innovation (the innovative context) helps us to understand the main problems underlying knowledge transfer, coordination and reuse. Significantly, we propose a specific definition of knowledge and suggest a way to examine practices and work contexts that can help to uncover new difficulties in knowledge management system adoption. The theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed.

From rhetoric towards a model of practical knowledge management systems

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the factors influencing the adoption and diffusion of knowledge management systems (KMSs) in Australia.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative field study was undertaken, in which six Australian organizations of various sizes, all in various stages of KMS adoption and diffusion, were studied via face‐to‐face interviews with key personnel in the organizations.FindingsA comprehensive combined model of adoption and diffusion of KMS was developed and is presented in detail.Practical limitations/implicationsThis paper explains how the combined model can be used for practical applications in companies that are embarking on KMS adoption and diffusion.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the KMS literature by taking a qualitative research approach to develop a comprehensive model.

A six‐stage model for the effective diffusion of knowledge management systems

PurposeThis paper aims to focus on the diffusion process of Knowledge management systems (KMSs). Specifically, to identify the sequence of stages of the process.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents a six‐stage model of the KMS diffusion process. It then provides an empirical test of the sequence of steps in the KMS diffusion process in Australia. Structural equation modelling using LISREL is used as the analytical tool for the empirical test.FindingsThe results show that all the hypotheses related to the sequence of the KMS diffusion process are significant. This is an important and significant finding. It clearly demonstrates how KMS adoption and diffusion should be planned in Australian organizations.Originality/valueThe research identifies six stages of KMS diffusion based on the results from selected Australian companies: initiation, adoption, pilot implementation, organic growth, organizational implementation, and sustained use/diffusion of KMS.

Adopting Competence Systems in Fast-Growing Knowledge-Intensive Organisations

Today, many organisations are reliant on the competence of individual knowledge workers. Information systems to support competence management are thus considered to be vital tools in order to gain competitive advantage. Competence systems are intended to support staff allocation and management of competence by providing firms with competence overviews. This paper presents a qualitative case study of the adoption of such systems in a fast-growing knowledge-intensive organisation. Applying a situated change perspective on organisational transformation, the paper analyses how different changes were managed in the process of competence systems adoption. Building on this analysis, this paper contributes a set of managerial implications for managing the situated nature of such changes in leveraging the use of competence systems. In addition, the paper also discusses how the implications generated apply to the management of knowledge management systems adoption.

Adoption and diffusion of knowledge management systems: field studies of factors and variables

The concept of knowledge and knowledge management is not new. Researchers identified the practice of knowledge management as early as 4000 years ago. However, knowledge management systems (KMS), which involve the application of IT systems and other organizational resources to manage knowledge strategically, are a relatively recent phenomenon. While the literature on knowledge management covers various issues, it lacks comprehensive studies of factors and variables of adoption and diffusion of KMS. This paper studies these factors and variables in the context of some Australian organizations. A qualitative field study is undertaken in this research, where six organizations of various sizes, all in various stages of KMS adoption and diffusion, are studied via interviews with key personnel. Content analysis is then performed to extract the factors and variables and a comprehensive model of KMS adoption and diffusion is developed. The results of the interviews identify four major variables affecting KMS diffusion as: organizational culture, top management support, benefits to individuals, and dream of KMS. The paper also highlights the research and managerial implications of the KMS diffusion model.