Review of empirical research on knowledge management practices and firm performance

Abstract

Purpose Knowledge management (KM) has emerged as one of the most discussed new management methods. Among the most debated areas in KM has been the association between knowledge and firm performance, but a lack of understanding and consensus still remains as a major issue. This paper aims to address the research gap by reviewing the empirical literature and determining how KM-based managerial and organizational practices are related with firm performance. Design/methodology/approach This study followed a systematic review procedure. Findings The findings demonstrate that utilization of KM practices is significant driver for innovation. Also, specific leadership characteristics and organizational arrangements are likely to support firm performance through more efficient and effective management of knowledge resources. Research limitations/implications This study adds to the discussion on knowledge-based view of the firm by pointing out the key organizational and managerial practices that are associated with firm performance. The results of this study also add structure to the previously scattered discussion on KM practices by synthesizing the relevant literature Practical implications Measuring KM performance is characterized by organizational complexity; this study demonstrated that innovation is a likely outcome of utilization of KM practices, but there are numerous other factors that influence the financial performance figures. Also, this study points out that organizations should pay attention to specific KM leadership attributes and organizational arrangements in order to achieve firm performance through KM. Originality/value This is the first systematic literature review on KM practices and firm performance. The results increase understanding of efficient and effective management of knowledge resources for organizational benefit.

Internal Corporate Social Responsibility and Performance: A Study of Publicly Traded Companies

“…: Cegarra-Navarro et al, 2016;Inkinen, 2016). Employee development and managerial competence development are relevant I-CSR investments that can impact company operations (Agan et al, 2016;Chen & Huang, 2009;Ferraz & Gallardo-Vazquez, 2016), particularly in transitional economies (Lau, 2011;Rettab, Brik, & Mellah, 2009), where access to technical and higher education is often limited and costly (Dourado, 2007).…”

Embedded knowledge management: towards improved managerial relevance

“…For example, Andreeva and Kianto (2012) highlight the shortage of empirical studies demonstrating the connection between knowledge management and organizational performance. However, nowadays there are more and more studies showing evidence about the impacts of knowledge management on organizational performance (e.g., Andreeva and Kianto 2012;Darroch 2005;Inkinen 2016;Massingham 2014;Palacios Marqués and Garrigós Simón 2006). Therefore, other explanations are needed in order to fully understand why knowledge management has not become as popular as could have been expected.…”

“…This contradiction may raise the question of ''what's in it for me'' (Bailey and Clarke 2001), i.e., what is the personal relevance of knowledge management for a manager? Yet another potential explanation relates to the lack of evidence regarding the impact of knowledge management practices and interventions on the organizational performance (Inkinen 2016). These issues bring up the question on the extent that knowledge management-despite its promise-is making a contribution to the key management tasks of knowledge-intensive organizations.…”

The Integration of Strategic Resources of a Company in the Context of the New Economy: A Conceptual Model

“…Базируясь на знаниевой теории фирмы, сторонни-ки стратегического управления знаниями предпринимают усилия по выявлению и объяснению взаимосвязи между знаниями (их характеристиками и практиками работы с ними) и конечными показателями деятельности организации. Так, в не-давнем обзоре, посвященном этому аспекту, отмечается, что наличие прямой вза-имосвязи практик управления знаниями с финансовыми результатами просле-живается всего в нескольких исследованиях, однако управление знаниями вносит существенный вклад в инновационную активность фирм и развитие сопутствую-щих ей факторов [Inkinen, 2016].…”