The impact of knowledge management infrastructure on organisational competitiveness in a Confucian-socialist market economy

Abstract

The critical role of knowledge management (KM) in achieving and sustaining a competitive advantage (CA) has been strongly emphasised in the extant literature. However, most previous studies were conceptually grounded and empirically examined in advanced, developed and newly industrialised countries and from a large company perspective. Meanwhile, little attempt has been made to address the relative importance of different factors constituting the organisational KM infrastructure capability in the context of Asian emerging, less developed countries such as Vietnam where a socialist market economy, a Confucian culture and a majority of small and medium sized enterprises currently exist. By adopting a resource-based theory of the firm with an extension of a knowledge-based perspective, this paper aims at developing and empirically validating a conceptual model of the relationships between KM infrastructure capability components and their impacts on a firmpsilas CA in Vietnam. The results of 148 surveyed respondents in the construction industry reconfirmed a general agreement found in the literature that a combined social and technological approach is ideal to take advantage of their significant positive correlations in improving organisational competitiveness. Moreover, in the Vietnamese-specific context, the study indicated that while culture is the most important issue affecting KM, integration with information technology may assist to overcome cultural barriers and provide a stronger contribution to a firmpsilas CA.

Sales Promotion Effectiveness: The Impact of Culture on Demographic Level

“…Little effort has been done to address the importance of different factors that constitute the sales promotions format of retails in reference of upcoming less developed countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Here, geographic differences, market economy that is social, small and medium sized retailers presently exists (T.Q, Nguyen, Neck, 2008).…”

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“…Adopted as an extension of the resource-based view, the knowledge-based approach defines the firm as an entity that generates, integrates and distributes knowledge (Lopez, 2005). Therefore, KM capabilities are at the center of this perspective to keep companies competitive in today's dynamic market (Nguyen, Neck, & Nguyen, 2008).…”

“…Based on the regional aspect, the focus of research in the context of the Asia Pacific region is still in the development stage, especially for KM issues and their implementation in SMEs in certain countries such as Vietnam (Nguyen H. T., 2011). Vietnam is a developing country, a developing Asian country, where a socialist market economy, Confucian culture and majority of SMEs exist (Nguyen, Neck, & Nguyen, 2008). The country is late in the development of a knowledge-based economy, where KM is still considered a rather expensive management tool.…”

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“…There is little expenditure on research and development in construction industry. Vietnamese entrepreneur's demands for technological innovation are relatively low with average expenditure accounted for only 0.2%-0.3% of total revenue (Nguyen et al, 2008).…”

“…A major part of the industry originated from State-owned enterprises that are eligible to the State's policies. They receive strong supports from their governing body and get easy to access to resources (Nguyen et al, 2008).…”