A Proposed Factors Affecting Knowledge Management Effectiveness: State of the Art and Direction for Future Work

Abstract

Knowledge is the source of competitive advantage and optimal performance. Researchers have inconclusive findings regarding the factors that constitute the knowledge management (KM) effectiveness and their effects on organizational measures such as innovation and competitive advantage. The purpose of this study is to review and integrate the literature to identify the factors that affect the KM effectiveness. A total of fifteen articles are reviewed. The findings indicate that knowledge process capabilities such as knowledge acquisition, knowledge sharing, knowledge application, and knowledge protection are more important than the knowledge infrastructure capabilities. In addition, knowledge sharing is the most important factor that affects the KM effectiveness. The findings also show that 88% of studies are conducted in business organizations with 88% using quantitative approach. The respondents of reviewed articles are managers and postgraduate level employees. Directions of future work include scope, respondents, location, and approach.

Keywords: Knowledge Management, KM CAPABILITIES, Review of KM, KM effectiveness, Organizational Performance