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Taiwanese executive practice knowledge management in mainland China and Southeast Asia (Malaysia)

Hsin Kao (China Institute of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan)
Peng‐Hsian Kao (China Institute of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan)
Thomas A. Mazzuchi (Department of Engineering Management, School of Engineering and Applied Science, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA)

VINE

ISSN: 0305-5728

Article publication date: 1 July 2006

1250

Abstract

Purpose

Many scholars and practitioners argue about the Taiwanese government policy of investing in “Go‐South” or “Go‐West” approach. Therefore, this paper aims to present data from two groups showing the differences of Taiwanese executives in China and in Malaysia from the point of view of knowledge management (KM) usage.

Design/methodology/approach

Knowledge management is very important since enterprises are eager to create value through the better use of knowledge in today's globalization trend. In this study, the State of Knowledge Management: An Assessment Questionnaire, which includes 19 KM tools, was used to identify various kinds of KM tools usage frequencies. Data were collected from 200 firms in China and Malaysia. These firms represent several manufacturing industries, including food, textiles, rubbers and plastics, electronics, and metal manufacturing.

Findings

The results show that executives in China have higher scores in 16 KM tools than executives in Malaysia, which means the former executives practice KM more than the later executives. Chinese people in both Taiwan and China share the same traditional values of respect for age, authority, hierarchy, culture, and language. Therefore, cultural and contextual variables differences may not affect the mix of knowledge‐sharing problems.

Originality/value

This paper reveals useful information showing the differences of Taiwanese executives in China and in Malaysia from the point of view of KM usage.

Keywords

Citation

Kao, H., Kao, P. and Mazzuchi, T.A. (2006), "Taiwanese executive practice knowledge management in mainland China and Southeast Asia (Malaysia)", VINE, Vol. 36 No. 3, pp. 341-352. https://doi.org/10.1108/03055720610703605

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2006, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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