Knowledge Management's Influence on Government Organisations' Innovativeness

This study investigates whether Knowledge Management (KM) holistically influences organisational innovation inthe government sector. To determine the relationships between KM and organisational innovation, identified in theliterature and used in practice, a quantitative survey approach was undertaken using a series of researcher-developedscales. From the literature Organisational Innovation (OI) was identified to be important in relation to KM, and aconceptual framework was designed to test the concept of the holistic influence of KM on organisational innovation.A total of 625 valid responses were collected from top and middle management from 54 government organizations inthe Kingdom of Bahrain. The model was statistically tested according to the research hypotheses by regressionanalysis, then Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results reveal strong and significant correlations amongstorganisational development practices. Although the holistic influence of the model could not be confirmed, findingsshow a positive KM influence on organisational development practices, thus KM is an essential factor forgovernment organisations. The model needs further investigation to explore the missing variables to make it ‘fit forpurpose’, and the concept of a holistic model needs to be further subjected to empirical investigation to explore itsviability.

[1]  Vincent M. Ribière,et al.  Integrating Total Quality Management and Knowledge Management , 2004 .

[2]  D. D. Vaus,et al.  Surveys in Social Research , 1991 .

[3]  Wen-Chia Tsai,et al.  Towards an analytical framework of organizational innovation in the service industry , 2010 .

[4]  Lillian V. Ortiz-Fournier,et al.  Overcoming cultural barriers for innovation and knowledge sharing , 2009, J. Knowl. Manag..

[5]  I. Chaston.  Knowledge Management and Open Innovation in United Kingdom Local Authorities , 2012 .

[6]  Deepak Chawla,et al.  Knowledge management initiatives in Indian public and private sector organizations , 2010, J. Knowl. Manag..

[7]  J. Birkinshaw,et al.  Managing the knowledge life cycle , 2003, IEEE Engineering Management Review.

[8]  Andrew Goh Lee-Sung.  A Strategic Management Framework for Leveraging Knowledge Innovation , 2006 .

[9]  W. Neuman,et al.  Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches , 2002 .

[10]  Min Basadur,et al.  The Role of Knowledge Management in the Innovation Process , 2006 .

[11]  W. Bogner,et al.  Knowledge Management as the Basis of Sustained High Performance , 2007 .

[12]  Andrew. Goh Lee Sung.  A Strategic Management Framework for Leveraging Knowledge Innovation , 2007 .

[13]  野中 郁次郎,et al.  The knowledge-creating company , 2008 .

[14]  R. Calantone,et al.  Learning orientation, firm innovation capability, and firm performance , 2002 .

[15]  Thomas H. Davenport,et al.  Book review:Working knowledge: How organizations manage what they know. Thomas H. Davenport and Laurence Prusak. Harvard Business School Press, 1998. $29.95US. ISBN 0‐87584‐655‐6 , 1998 .

[16]  Hsiu-Fen Lin.  Knowledge sharing and firm innovation capability: an empirical study , 2007 .

[17]  C.-J. Chen,et al.  Strategic human resource practices and innovation performance: the mediating role of knowledge management capacity , 2009 .

[18]  H. Russell Bernard,et al.  Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches , 2000 .

[19]  R. Grant.  Toward a Knowledge-Based Theory of the Firm,” Strategic Management Journal (17), pp. , 1996 .

[20]  Mesut Akdere,et al.  The Role of Knowledge Management in Quality Management Practices: Achieving Performance Excellence in Organizations , 2009 .

[21]  Peter V. Nielsen,et al.  Knowledge management and innovation performance , 2007 .

[22]  Kenneth B. Kahn,et al.  The Role of Knowledge Management Strategies and Task Knowledge in Stimulating Service Innovation , 2010 .

[23]  Swee C. Goh,et al.  Managing effective knowledge transfer: an integrative framework and some practice implications , 2002, J. Knowl. Manag..

[24]  Pierluigi Rippa,et al.  An AHP-based framework for selecting knowledge management tools to sustain innovation process , 2011 .

[25]  S. Liao,et al.  The Relationship among Knowledge Management, Organizational Learning, and Organizational Performance , 2009 .

[26]  Isto Huvila.  Knowing what we know , 2012 .

[27]  Dorothy E. Leidner,et al.  Review: Knowledge Management and Knowledge Management Systems: Conceptual Foundations and Research Issues , 2001, MIS Q..

[28]  J. Abendshien,et al.  Managing the Future , 1996 .

[29]  Andreas Riege,et al.  Knowledge management in the public sector: stakeholder partnerships in the public policy development , 2006, J. Knowl. Manag..

[30]  Antonio J. Verdú-Jover,et al.  Influence of personal mastery on organizational performance through organizational learning and innovation in large firms and SMEs , 2007 .

[31]  John W. Creswell,et al.  Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches , 2010 .

[32]  Jozef Loermans,et al.  Synergizing the learning organization and knowledge management , 2002, J. Knowl. Manag..

[33]  Mahmoud Migdadi,et al.  An integrative view and empirical examination of the relationships among knowledge management enablers, processes, and organizational performance in Australian enterprises , 2005 .

[34]  Fytton Rowland,et al.  Knowledge management in a public organization: a study on the relationship between organizational elements and the performance of knowledge transfer , 2004, J. Knowl. Manag..

[35]  Xu Jiang,et al.  An empirical investigation of knowledge management and innovative performance: The case of alliances , 2009 .

[36]  Adel Ismail Al-Alawi,et al.  Organizational culture and knowledge sharing: critical success factors , 2007, J. Knowl. Manag..

[37]  I-Chieh Hsu,et al.  Knowledge sharing practices as a facilitating factor for improving organizational performance through human capital: A preliminary test , 2008, Expert Syst. Appl..

[38]  野中 郁次郎,et al.  The Knowledge-Creating Company: How , 1995 .

[39]  B. Lundvall,et al.  Forms of knowledge and modes of innovation , 2007 .

[40]  Leyland M. Lucas.  The evolution of organizations and the development of appropriate knowledge structures , 2010, J. Knowl. Manag..

[41]  Shih-Chieh Fang,et al.  Knowledge as a facilitator for enhancing innovation performance through total quality management , 2010 .

[42]  S. Liao,et al.  Relationships between knowledge inertia, organizational learning and organization innovation , 2008 .

[43]  Bruce T. Lamont,et al.  Knowledge management systems and developing sustainable competitive advantage , 2003, J. Knowl. Manag..

[44]  Michael H. Zack,et al.  Developing a Knowledge Strategy , 1999 .

[45]  P. Helo,et al.  Sustaining organisational development through knowledge management in the public sector , 2010 .

[46]  F. Rawlins,et al.  Science, Faith and Society , 1947, Nature.

[47]  Jo Rhodes,et al.  Factors influencing organizational knowledge transfer: implication for corporate performance , 2008, J. Knowl. Manag..

[48]  L. Olfman,et al.  An Investigation of the Determinants of Knowledge Management Systems Success in Omani Organizations , 2005 .

[49]  Andrew Parker,et al.  Knowing What We Know: Supporting Knowledge Creation and Sharing in Social Networks , 2001 .

[50]  Jeou-Shyan Horng,et al.  Hospitality teams: Knowledge sharing and service innovation performance , 2009 .

[51]  John I Njuguna,et al.  Strategic Positioning for Sustainable Competitive Advantage: An Organizational Learning Approach , 2009 .

[52]  Patrick Y. K. Chau,et al.  Influence of Knowledge Management Infrastructure on Innovative Business Processes and Market-Interrelationship Performance: An Empirical Study of Hospitals in Taiwan , 2011, J. Glob. Inf. Manag..

[53]  Alton Yeow-Kuan Chua,et al.  Untying the knot of knowledge management measurement: a study of six public service agencies in Singapore , 2008, J. Inf. Sci..

[54]  Alberto Carneiro,et al.  How does knowledge management influence innovation and competitiveness? , 2000, J. Knowl. Manag..

[55]  Chun Wei Choo,et al.  Innovation and knowledge creation: How are these concepts related? , 2006, Int. J. Inf. Manag..

[56]  Raduan Che Rose,et al.  The impact of knowledge sharing and Islamic work ethic on innovation capability , 2012 .

[57]  Sue Newell,et al.  Knowledge management and innovation: networks and networking , 1999, J. Knowl. Manag..

[58]  K. Pun,et al.  Integrating Knowledge Management into Organisational Learning: A Review of Concepts and Models , 2011 .

[59]  Zoe S. Dimitriades.  Creating strategic capabilities: organizational learning and knowledge management in the new economy , 2005 .

[60]  M. B. Lloria,et al.  A review of the main approaches to knowledge management , 2008 .

[61]  J. Barney.  Firm Resources and Sustained Competitive Advantage , 1991 .

[62]  Athanasia Pouloudi,et al.  Towards an integrated approach to knowledge management: hard, soft and abstract issues , 2002 .