Organizational knowledge creation practice: Comprehensive and systematic processes for scale development

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate a measurement tool for assessing organizational knowledge creation practices based on the socialization, externalization, combination, and internalization (SECI) processes of the knowledge creation theory.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from a sample of 455 knowledge workers from four Korean for‐profit organizations, utilizing a systematic procedure, which includes: initial item and domain development based on a comprehensive literature review, reliability assessment and item deduction, and construct validity and psychometric property assessment.

Findings

Results show that 17 items related to individual and team members' practices of acquiring and sharing knowledge in organizational contexts measure the four domains of SECI knowledge creation practices.

Research limitations/implications

Although samples from Korean business settings indicate a limited generalizability, this study's theory‐grounded item specification and systematic procedure of scale development (i.e. descriptive statistics, reliability and inter‐correlation analysis, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis using the random split method) can be replicated in future similar studies or scale development research.

Originality/value

Scores at the individual, group, or firm level can be utilized for comparison or development purposes to promote the collaborative knowledge creation practices in organizations.

Citation

Hoon Song, J., Uhm, D. and Won Yoon, S. (2011), "Organizational knowledge creation practice: Comprehensive and systematic processes for scale development", Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. 32 No. 3, pp. 243-259. https://doi.org/10.1108/01437731111123906