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on Knowledge Management and Knowledge Economy |
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Issue of 2019‒08‒12
five papers chosen by Laura Ştefănescu Centrul European de Studii Manageriale în Administrarea Afacerilor |
| By: | Sokolov, D.; Zavyalova, E. |
| Abstract: | The aim of the paper is to explore the theoretical underpinnings of a fit between knowledge management (KM), human resource management (HRM) and competitive strategies of knowledge-intensive organizations. The paper is based on a review of strategic KM and strategic HRM literature. Based on resource-based view, behavioral, contingent and configurational (complementarity) perspectives, the article proposes a number of testable propositions regarding the alignment between the strategies at different levels (KM, HRM, competitive). The review demonstrates effects of the strategic fit between personalization knowledge management strategy, commitment-oriented HRM strategy and differentiation-based competitive strategy, as well as between codification knowledge management strategy, control-oriented HRM strategy and cost leadership-based competitive strategy. Other combinations of strategies are considered to be less complimentary. Combined three strategies constitute particular strategic configurations that may have both positive and negative synergies influencing employee behavior and organizational outcomes. This study adds value to the literature by discussing mechanisms underlying the strategic interaction of the functional strategies in knowledge-intensive organizations. It also contributes to the discussion of contingent and configurational perspectives on “KM/HRM management – performance” relationship. Additionally, the paper facilitates to the integration and mutual enrichment of KM and HRM research fields. |
| Keywords: | knowledge management strategy, human resource management strategy, competitive strategy, strategic configurations, strategic fit, horizontal fit, |
| Date: | 2019 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sps:wpaper:16079&r=all |
| By: | Yao-Su Hu (Hong Kong Shue Yan University, HK; SPRU, University of Sussex, UK) |
| Abstract: | Allyn Young’s concept of increasing returns, not to be confounded with static, equilibrium constructs of economies of scale and increasing returns to scale, is applied in this article to analyze how and why increasing returns arise in the production (generation) and use (application) of knowledge and of big data, thereby driving economic growth an progress. Knowledge is chosen as our focus because it is ‘our most powerful engine of production’ and big data is included to make the analysis more complete and up-to-date. We analyze four mechanisms or sources of increasing returns in the production of knowledge, and four in the use of knowledge. Turning to big data, increasing returns in the use thereof are examined in two spheres: the dominance resulting from the self-reinforcing functioning of digital platforms and machine learning through gigantic amounts of training data. Concluding remarks concern some key differences between knowledge and big data, some policy implications, and some of the social negative impacts from the ways in which big data is being used. |
| Date: | 2019–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sru:ssewps:2019-14&r=all |
| By: | Nicolò Barbieri (University of Ferrara; SEEDS, Italy); Alberto Marzucchi (SPRU, Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex (UK)); Ugo Rizzo (University of Ferrara, and SEEDS, Italy) |
| Abstract: | The paper investigates the nature and impact of green technological change. We focus on the search and impact spaces of green inventions: we explore the knowledge recombination processes leading to the generation of inventions and their impact on subsequent technological developments. Using a large sample of patents, filed during the period 1980-2012, we employ established patent indicators to capture the complexity, novelty and impact of the invention process. Technological heterogeneity is controlled for by comparing green and non-green technologies within narrow technological domains. We find that green technologies are more complex and appear to be more novel than non-green technologies. In addition, they have a larger and more pervasive impact on subsequent inventions. The larger spillovers of green technologies are explained only partially by novelty and complexity. |
| Keywords: | environmental inventions, patent data, knowledge recombination, knowledge impact |
| JEL: | O33 O34 Q55 |
| Date: | 2019–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:srt:wpaper:0819&r=all |
| By: | Grinberg, E.; Pleshkova, A.; Selivanovskikh, L. |
| Abstract: | The question of whether knowledge management (KM) models are contextually universal has been extensively addressed by research and practice. For over a quarter of a decade management scholars and practitioners have tested the universal validity and applicability of KM practices and technological tools in different settings, primarily focusing on the idiosyncrasies of the national and/or organizational culture profiles. Recognizing the cultural biasness of knowledge-related processes, they have explored the role of the country context in the efficiency of management interventions and investigated the potential effect of the national culture on an organization’s ability to manage high potentials and build innovation capabilities via the adaptation and integration of relevant KM practices. Though the contemporary discourse on the feasibility of the culture-of-the-model approach in these fields is at the point of animation, the context-specific enablers of the emergence and legitimization of KM in countries that do not follow the Western or Eastern management tradition are not explicitly studied, which significantly limits one’s understanding of the nature and role of KM in firms from particular clusters of countries. In particular, KM in Russia is at the stage of formation – it remains underdeveloped in this context, despite different stakeholders, inter alia, management consultants, executives from local governmental and non-governmental organizations, representatives of the teaching / scientific communities, and managerial talents from KM-adjacent fields, acknowledging the role knowledge and knowledge-related systems play in the creation and maintenance of sustainable competitive advantage. We therefore aim at analyzing the KM phenomenon in Russia through the lens of stakeholders’ theory and investigating the country-specific peculiarities of KM emergence, development and acceptance. |
| Keywords: | knowledge workers, knowledge managers, knowledge management systems, stakeholder theory, |
| Date: | 2019 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sps:wpaper:16078&r=all |
| By: | Andres Fernando Zapata-Ramirez (Faculty of Economic Sciences, National University of Colombia, Colombia Author-2-Name: Carlos Alberto Rodriguez-Romero Author-2-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Economic Sciences, National University of Colombia, Colombia Author-3-Name: Author-3-Workplace-Name: Author-4-Name: Author-4-Workplace-Name: Author-5-Name: Author-5-Workplace-Name: Author-6-Name: Author-6-Workplace-Name: Author-7-Name: Author-7-Workplace-Name: Author-8-Name: Author-8-Workplace-Name:) |
| Abstract: | Objective - The praxeology recognized by some theorists as the relevance of the results of the research process for managerial and academic practice, is evidenced by others as absent. The purpose of this paper is to propose an evaluation of the results of the research process in management, particularly in the "doctoral theses" in management in Colombia over the last 9 years, from a reflexive approach as the epistemology of human sciences and critical performativity that allows us to answer the question: What is the level of knowledge praxeology generated in doctoral theses in management in Colombia? Methodology/Technique - The work proposes to start with an exploratory sequential approach to identify the categories of praxeological focus in the literature and theses. Then, a strategy of quantitative evaluation of the observable aspects in the theses is designed. Finally, the strategy is applied to the theses and the results are documented. Findings & Novelty - The current scope of this proposal is limited to the information that will be collected in the observation of doctoral theses. The results should be interpreted considering this restriction. This proposal presents an approach to interpret the praxeological focus from the functionalist explanation to the comprehensive in doctoral research in management where the traditional scheme has been positivism. |
| Keywords: | Epistemology; Praxeology; Evidence-based Management; Critical Performativity; Critical Management Studies |
| JEL: | M00 M10 M19 |
| Date: | 2019–06–19 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:gtr:gatrjs:jmmr218&r=all |