Knowledge Governance Mechanisms Research Articles

Examining the effectiveness of knowledge governance mechanisms in mobile messaging groups within construction project teams

PurposeMobile messaging groups (MMGs) have been widely adopted in construction practice, yet, little is known about how to foster knowledge sharing (KS) in MMGs, characterized by communication visibility. This study is thus motivated to investigate mechanisms for KS in this context.Design/methodology/approachThe paper employs knowledge governance theory to construct a theoretical model and develop hypotheses. Specifically, psychological safety is identified as a mediator between knowledge governance mechanism (KGM) and KS, and promotion regulatory focus is identified as a moderator between KGM and psychological safety. Data from 208 Chinese construction project team members are collected to test the proposed theoretical model.FindingsThe results suggest that both formal and informal KGM positively affect psychological safety, which in turn improves KS (quantity and quality). Moreover, the mediating role of psychological safety is confirmed, and the moderating role of promotion regulatory focus is validated.Originality/valueThis study explores how to foster KS in MMGs, which are pervasive in today’s digital age. The findings in this study enhance the understanding of KS in digital environments and afford important insights into knowledge management within construction project teams.

Knowledge ambidexterity in construction project-based organizations: predicaments of knowledge networking intention within outbound consultant-supplier interfaces

PurposeAgenda for knowledge creation within inter-project alliances and inter-firm supply chain networks has been extensively debated. However, the existing knowledge networks within consultant-supplier interfaces in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry seem to be vague, loose, incidental and insignificant. This study examines factors affecting knowledge networking intention (KNI) within construction service supply chain (CSSC) networks.Design/methodology/approachData analysis was conducted on a quantitative survey of 161 consulting professional service firms in Tanzania, employing stepwise regression modelling as the statistical technique.FindingsThe results indicate that three types of knowledge inertia (KI) exert varying effects on KNI. While both procedural (PI) and learning inertia (LI) negatively impact KNI, experience inertia (EI) has no impact on KNI. In addition, knowledge governance (KG) mechanisms are found to strongly strengthen and leverage the negative effects of PI and LI on KNI and the positive link between EI and KNI within outbound and heterogeneous CSSC actors, with formal KG having greater leverage than informal KG.Practical implicationsThe study offers guidance on how managers of PBOs should strategically orchestrate knowledge governance mechanisms within CSSC networks to leverage KI behaviours.Originality/valueCurrent literature on KNI, KI and KG within CSSC networks offers a limited understanding of how KI behaviours influence KNI of project-based organizations (PBOs) in tapping vibrant outbound peripheral knowledge. The research presents two major original contributions. First, the empirical evidence contributes to deepening the current understanding of how heterogeneous external knowledge within consultant-supplier interactions is negatively influenced by KI. Lastly, the study suggests formal and informal knowledge governance strategies for managers on how to counteract KI forces, thus extending the theoretical debate on KNI, KI and KG literature.

Integrating knowledge in infrastructure projects: the interplay between formal and informal knowledge governance mechanisms

This study focuses upon knowledge governance mechanisms of integrating specialised knowledge on underground utilities in large infrastructure projects. The integration of knowledge is essential for the realisation of such projects. The study explores the formal and informal knowledge governance mechanisms in three large infrastructure projects and compares these mechanisms to reveal their effects on knowledge integration. The findings show that combining reward systems, project culture and trust are targeting the motivation of underground experts to share their knowledge and allocation of authority and project network are mechanisms aimed at the coordination between managers and underground experts to integrate knowledge. We contribute to studies on knowledge governance by enabling further empirical insight in the relationships between formal and informal mechanisms.

Integrating Knowledge Management and Governance for Innovation Outcomes: A New Framework for Managing Innovation in a Project Environment

AbstractOrganisational competitive advantage is highly dependent on the ability to innovate and knowledge is a key component of innovation. Our understanding of knowledge processes and mechanisms is an emerging field of study and consequently, an understanding of how micro-level, knowledge governance mechanisms can assist in managing knowledge for innovation has received limited attention in the literature. Projects have additional difficulty being innovative due to their temporality and focus on their immediate performance rather than on building capability. This qualitative case study research explores the role of knowledge governance in contributing to better management of knowledge in the context of an innovation project in a government-owned, water utility in Queensland, Australia. This research contributes to the existing literature by bringing together insights from knowledge management, knowledge governance and innovation frameworks which culminated in a new knowledge-based innovation framework. The research further demonstrates how two knowledge governance mechanisms—trust and energy—influence the innovation process to make innovative outcomes more effective through the creation and transfer of new knowledge from projects to the organisation.

Interactive mechanisms between formal and informal knowledge governance mechanisms in predicting knowledge processes in China

ABSTRACT Knowledge quality and knowledge creation refer to two distinct but continuous processes that are critical to the success of Chinese knowledge-intensive firms (KIFs) and should be effectively governed through appropriate knowledge governance mechanisms (KGMs). This study – aiming to examine this topic – draws on the KBV theory and tests the indirect relationship among KGMs, knowledge quality, and knowledge creation, as well as formal and informal KGMs’ complementary roles. We collected data from 192 KIFs in Chinese knowledge-intensive industries. Our results demonstrated that formal and informal KGMs positively influenced knowledge quality and exhibited an indirect positive effect on knowledge creation. Moreover, the product item between formal and informal KGMs exhibited a positive effect on knowledge quality and indirectly influenced knowledge creation via knowledge quality, demonstrating formal and informal KGMs’ complementary roles in managing knowledge processes. Finally, we present this study’s theoretical and practical implications and limitations.

Interpersonal knowledge transfer within the multinational enterprise: incorporating identity based quasi-formal knowledge governance mechanisms

PurposeThe paper aims to incorporate the social identity theory perspectives to the knowledge-based view in order to suggest how certain organizational characteristics can be leveraged as knowledge governance mechanisms for interpersonal knowledge transfer within the multinational enterprise (MNE).Design/methodology/approachThis paper is a conceptual discussion on interpersonal knowledge governance mechanisms.FindingsThe paper proposes a new set of governance mechanisms which may be leveraged to govern interpersonal knowledge transfer. These mechanisms utilize organizational identity of individuals to govern individual level knowledge transfer behavior with the MNE. The paper also illustrates how subsidiary power, one of such mechanisms, influences interpersonal knowledge transfer within the MNE through organizational identification.Research limitations/implicationsAs the paper is conceptual, the proposed mechanisms have not been substantiated empirically. It calls for empirically testing the suggested mechanisms across countries.Practical implicationsThe paper provides insights to managers for leveraging on organizational identity to manage interpersonal level knowledge transfer within the MNE.Originality/valueThe paper adds organizational identity-based knowledge governance mechanisms to the knowledge governance approach. It highlights how certain organizational characteristics (e.g. subsidiary power), even though these are not knowledge governance mechanisms per se, can be utilized to govern interpersonal knowledge transfer with the MNE.

The up- and downside of collaboration in core and non-core technologies – Selective, contingent, and orchestrated openness in R&D collaborations

This paper contributes to the current debate about the “knowledge sharing-protecting” tension in R&D collaborations by introducing a new angle for analyzing this paradox. Considering the role of internal knowledge sources of the firm, the paper introduces and empirically analyses the interplay between three knowledge governance mechanisms (selective, contingent, and orchestrated openness) and the different technological fields of the firm (core, related non-core, and distant non-core technologies). Based on a unique first-hand large-scale project-level dataset from a Global 100 firm across a 10-year span, this research finds that R&D collaborations selectively conducted in firm’s related non-core technological fields promise the best innovation performance. Further, by orchestrating its projects across core and non-core technological fields in the same knowledge portfolio, the firm can leverage a network of inter-connected projects when collaborating with external partners. As such, the firm can strategically “distribute” collaboration risks across multiple projects, while optimize its access to external knowledge that it intends to get. Finally, contrary to the common assumption, this study does not find any discriminating factors against market-based partners in their contribution to innovation in both core and non-core technologies.

Research on the Key Path to Improve the Collaborative Innovation Performance of Port Logistics Enterprise Cluster

Under the new pattern of international and domestic double circulation, the scale of China's port logistics enterprise cluster is expanding, but the innovation difficulty of cluster enterprises is increasing sharply, the innovation power of core technology is insufficient, there are some problems, such as focusing on agglomeration rather than cooperation, the integration of industrial chain and innovation chain is not close, and the choice of innovation path is improper. The method and purpose of this paper are based on the theory of collaborative innovation, establish a structural equation model, empirically test the logistics clusters with ports above designated size in China, and put forward the key path for the collaborative innovation of port logistics enterprise clusters, and improve the collaboration degree and innovation performance of cluster enterprises. The empirical results show that the external environment of collaborative innovation (EECCI), the innovation learning ability of cluster enterprises (ILACE) and the cluster enterprises cooperation (CEC) can directly or indirectly affect the cluster collaborative innovation performance (CCIP), and the innovation learning ability of cluster enterprises (ILACE) plays a mediating role between the external environment of collaborative innovation (EECCI) and the cluster collaborative innovation performance (CCIP). Port logistics enterprise clusters need to develop environmental governance, knowledge governance, information governance and other mechanisms to promote collaborative innovation in the industrial chain, technology chain and value chain.

Um ano de transformação e conhecimento

Um ano de transformação e conhecimento

The impact of knowledge governance mechanisms on supply chain performance: empirical evidence from the agri-food industry

The agri-food supply chain (AFSC) is an extremely complex structure that comprises a series of events from farm-to-fork. Additionally, there is a wide range of information and material flows that require to be managed, which are seen as the knowledge flow in the AFSCs. It is expected that the use of knowledge governance mechanisms (KGMs) will help in enhancing AFSC performance. To examine the impact of KGMs on AFSC performance, a mixed methods research design was applied. First, semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data. Then, themes were generated through thematic analysis. Afterwards, relationships between KGMs and AFSC performance were built by using total interpretive structural modelling (TISM). Finally, questionnaire-based structured interviews were undertaken to evaluate the empirical and theoretical findings further. The research results indicate that trust-, reciprocity-, market-, and contract-based KGMs have positive effects on product quality, efficiency, flexibility, responsiveness, and process quality of AFSC. Furthermore, market-based KGM, located in the lowest level in the TISM hierarchy, should be given additional focus due to its role as a key force driving the higher level of AFSC performance and other KGMs. The findings provide AFSC practitioners with useful guidance on how the relationships between KGMs and AFSC performance should be managed to improve the performance of AFSC.

The development of innovative capacity as a strategic resource in technology-based incubation activities

PurposeTo identify the instruments and organizational mechanisms that provide the development of the innovative capacities of companies that (i) no longer work with technology-based incubators, and (ii) are associated with the community universities of the state of Rio Grande do Sul.Design/methodology/approachEmpirical research, qualitative approach and descriptive nature, conducted through multiple case studies in 21 companies from IEBTs in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Data were organized and analyzed through content analysis.FindingsResults show that the development of IC occurred through behaviors and skills, routines and processes and mechanisms of learning and knowledge governance that support the development of product, process and behavioral dimensions. It became evident that the companies that are emerging from IEBTs need innovation capacity to survive in the market. These innovations are related to product, process and behavioral innovations.Research limitations/implicationsThe study cannot be generalized to other segments, since it was restricted to a set of IEBT egress companies, with specific realities and based on the perception of the managers of these companies.Practical implicationsThe mechanisms and instruments for the development of innovative capacity can be used by companies from different sectors to make them more competitive before the current economic scenario.Originality/valueIt is justified by the scarcity of studies related to the dynamic capacity component (DC) elements, constituting a theoretical gap regarding the innovative capacity.

How do knowledge governance mechanisms impact on repatriate knowledge transfer intention? The moderating role of perceived career and repatriation support and person-organization fit

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the moderation effect of person-organization fit and perceived career and repatriation support on the relationship between knowledge governance and knowledge transfer intention of repatriates at multinational corporations.Design/methodology/approachSurvey data were collected from 243 repatriates who had been contacted beforehand from MNCs in China. Hierarchical regression, AMOS, and PROCESS tools were used to examine the data.FindingsThe results revealed that the repatriate knowledge governance mechanism was positively related to repatriate knowledge transfer intentions. What's more, person-organization fit and perceived career and repatriation support significantly moderate the effect of knowledge governance mechanisms on repatriate knowledge transfer intention.Originality/valueThis is the initial empirical research on the influence of person-organization fit and perceived career and repatriation support on the relationship between knowledge governance and repatriate knowledge transfer; it may help readers understand the complex process and relationships associated with repatriate knowledge transfer, and the results may be useful for repatriate knowledge governance in multinational corporations.

Mechanism to Improve the Innovation Capability of Late-developing Complex Product Manufacturing Enterprises Based on longitudinal case study of CRRC

Although China’s manufacturing level has made great progress in recent years, the situation that key core technologies are controlled by others has not fundamentally changed. The improvement of innovation capability greatly affects the development of manufacturing enterprises. Therefore, based on the longitudinal case study of CRRC, this paper attempts to analyze the mechanism of innovation capability improvement of late-developing complex product manufacturing enterprises. The results show that the innovation capability promotion mechanism of late-developing complex product manufacturing enterprises includes power traction mechanism, collaboration innovation mechanism, talent cultivation mechanism and knowledge governance mechanism. Based on this, this paper believes that in the process of development, the late-developing complex product manufacturing enterprises need to carry out corresponding personnel training and knowledge management with the help of the state, under a good environment in the industry and on the premise of maintaining their own brands.

A knowledge governance framework for open innovation projects

Markets tend to develop always faster with ever-growing requirements on products and services. This forces enterprises to cooperate with partners like suppliers, customers, or even competitors across organisational borders to cope with these challenges. Such a collaboration leads to knowledge flows between all partners. Being too open and sharing too much information can cause knowledge leakage. The central aim of this research is to provide a framework on how to integrate knowledge governance mechanisms in open innovation projects to ensure eligibility in practice. Insights from the field have been integrated into the framework by interviewing ten experts who have practical experiences on open innovation projects. The interviews have been conducted in 2019 and analysed later on. Based on scientific literature and insights from the field, a knowledge governance framework to guide through open innovation projects has been developed.

Dimensions of knowledge governance in a multi-PMO project context

Purpose Knowledge is recognized to be a key asset to achieve the strategic objectives of an organization. To that end, it is necessary to count on governance mechanisms that ensure the alignment between the knowledge resources and processes and the business strategy. Given that knowledge management is often performed by project management offices (PMOs), the purpose of this paper is to explore if the dimensions for PMOs governance suggested in the literature are also valid for knowledge governance and what problems do exist. Design/methodology/approach This research has been done using case study methodology. A large complex project in the IT industry was deeply analyzed. This project brings together most of the elements that can be found in current organizational contexts (e.g. geographical dispersed project teams, multicultural environment, technical complexity, etc.), thus reinforcing the applicability of the results obtained. Findings The study findings indicate that knowledge flows between PMOs take place along the dimensions defined for PMO governance, thus confirming the suitability of those dimensions also for the governance of knowledge. This research also validates the connection between the barriers to knowledge sharing and the knowledge governance mechanisms, and provides empirical evidence of the importance of informal knowledge governance to foster knowledge sharing behaviors. This is of key importance to overcome daily operational issues. The observations made are, in fact, valuable lessons learnt for future projects and a valuable input for further research. Originality/value This study explores the similarities between PMOs governance and knowledge governance in multi-PMO settings on the basis of a case study, thus contributing additional empirical data to the literature. Previous work with this approach has not been found.

Knowledge Management in Brazil: What Governance Mechanisms are Needed to Boost Innovation?

ABSTRACTThe need to innovate is relevant to many firms around the globe and is particularly pressing for those in emerging markets. They face global competition, are under-resourced, and suffer from weaker institutional support. It is suggested that to innovate successfully in this context, indigenous firms would benefit from focusing on managing their current knowledge base more efficiently. We know little about how knowledge management works outside developed economies and which knowledge governance mechanisms have more influence than others in the context of emerging economies. To address this gap, we explore how context may matter for the use of knowledge governance mechanisms and their effect on innovation performance in Brazilian firms. Using the survey data of 109 firms, structural equation modelling, and cluster analysis, our findings suggest that the joint application of knowledge-focused rewards, organizational design, and information and communication technologies that support knowledge processes is critical for boosting innovation performance. We discuss how the peculiarities of the Brazilian context may shape these findings. Our article contributes to the knowledge management and innovation literature by demonstrating that the joint effects of bundles of knowledge governance mechanisms and contextual variables should be explored in order to understand their impact on organizational outcomes.

ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY: COMPONENTS AND ORGANIZATIONAL MECHANISMS FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT

ABSTRACT Purpose: The objective of this study is to understand how the process of absorptive capacity (ACAP) is developed, by analyzing the behaviors and abilities of a group of companies, their routines and processes and the mechanisms of learning and knowledge governance. The companies operate in the metal mechanics sector and they are based in the southern region of Brazil. Originality/value: The relevance consists of the operationalization of component elements and in the development of organizational mechanisms of dynamic capacity (Meirelles & Camargo, 2014), as means of ACAP development (Wang & Ahmed, 2007) in organizations belonging to the metal mechanics sector. Design/methodology/approach: It is a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive empirical research, carried out by a multiple case study. It seeks to investigate in detail three organizations of the metal mechanics sector, by analyzing the procedures, resources, mechanisms, and systems, which makes it possible for them to develop absorptive capacities. Content analysis was performed in order to analyze the data. Findings: The researched companies develop absorptive capacity through some behaviors and abilities, such as relationship capacity, learning capacity, and people’s training capacity, and through routines and processes, especially information search routines, market monitoring routines and risk management. Finally, the researched companies develop absorptive capacity by learning mechanisms and knowledge governance, such as researches, information exchange among clients, suppliers and other companies.

Organizational Tensions as Driving Forces of Dynamic Capabilities in Hybrid Organizations

Since structuralist theory we know that organizational tensions and conflicts are not necessarily detrimental to the purposes of a given enterprise. Based on this assumption we had in this theoretical article the objective of analyzing how the presence of organizational tensions can be a potential driver of dynamic capacities in hybrid organizations, illustrated in the article as social enterprise. As the main contribution of the study, we stress that the tensions of belonging, learning, organization and performance can boost dynamic capabilities of behaviors and skills, routines and processes and mechanisms of learning and knowledge governance in hybrid organizations and potentially in other organizational typologies. We also bring a stimulus so that the managers of hybrid organizations are aware of the tensions of their enterprises because, while on the one hand these can boost dynamic capabilities, on the other, they can lead to the decline of their activities, given the current scenario of frequent technological changes and institutions we live.

The Development of Innovative Capacity: The Case of Fratelli Metalurgical and Renewable Energies Industry - Santa Rosa / RS

Objective: Our goal was to identify, understand, and analyze the organizational mechanisms and instruments for the development of innovative capacity in Fratelli, a metallurgical and renewable energies industry. The aim was to describe and analyze the behaviors and skills, processes and routines, and mechanisms of learning and knowledge governance that support the development of innovative capacity. Method: This is a bibliographical research study, in which we used an exploratory and descriptive qualitative approach, carried out through a case study. We used semi-structured interviews with the owner and project manager of the organization for collecting data, and interpreted these data through content analysis. Originality / Relevance: Studying the way in which small organizations develop innovative processes to compete in the market is of academic importance since many of the studies on innovation found in the literature have focused on exploring these processes in large companies. Results: The results showed that the mechanisms and instruments that trigger the development of innovative capacity are the entrepreneur’s ability to identify market opportunities, analyze the environment, and anticipate future trends. Openness in receiving ideas from customers and employees, investment in training, and academic training of the team provided an innovative environment, stimulating the development of innovations. Theoretical / methodological contributions: The contribution of this study resides in the fact of exploring the organizational mechanisms that propitiate the development of the innovative capacity of small companies. Exploring such mechanisms is important for understanding the antecedent organizational processes of innovation in small enterprises.

Organizational Culture and Knowledge Sharing Behavior: Examining Serial Mechanisms

This study aims to examine how hierarchy organizational culture affect the knowledge sharing behavior of teachers in higher education institutions and universities and its mediated link through formal knowledge governance mechanism and knowledge sharing opportunity. A sample of 269 teachers was drawn from university teachers in Pakistan and structural equation modeling is used to test the hypotheses. The results of this study suggest that first, hierarchy organizational culture is positively associated with knowledge sharing behavior of teachers. Second, formal knowledge governance mechanism fully mediated the relationship between hierarchy organizational culture and knowledge sharing behavior. Third, knowledge sharing opportunity fully mediated the relationship between hierarchy organizational culture and knowledge sharing behavior. Finally, the relationship between hierarchy organizational culture and knowledge sharing behavior is sequentially and fully mediated by formal knowledge governance mechanism and knowledge sharing opportunity. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed followed by limitations of the study along with suggestions for future research.