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Knowledge management and its critical factors in social economy organizations

Leonor Cardoso (Faculty of Psychology and Sciences of Education, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal)
Andreia Meireles (Faculty of Psychology and Sciences of Education, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal)
Carlos Ferreira Peralta (Católica‐Lisbon School of Business and Economics, Catholic University of Portugal, Lisbon, Portugal)

Journal of Knowledge Management

ISSN: 1367-3270

Article publication date: 30 March 2012

2965

Abstract

Purpose

This research aims to present and empirically validate a conceptual model for social economy organizations that includes organizational commitment, knowledge‐centered culture, and training as critical variables for the success of formal and informal knowledge management practices.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is a cross‐sectional study and involved collection of quantitative data. The sample is made up of Portuguese organizations belonging to the social economy sector. The survey consisted of 205 employees. Path analysis was applied, using maximum‐likelihood estimation procedures.

Findings

Path analysis results show that the proposed model has a good fit with the data. Training and knowledge management practices are a function of knowledge‐centered culture and organizational commitment.

Research limitations/implications

The research is focused on social economy organizations, therefore generalization of results to other sectors must be cautious. Although a comprehensible model is presented, it does not cover an exhaustive list of critical factors for knowledge management. Additionally, this research is of a cross‐sectional nature, which does not capture dynamic changes.

Practical implications

The research contributes to the existing literature about the critical factors of knowledge management. Social economy organizations that are developing knowledge management practices should attend to the predominant type of organizational commitment and should base their training policies on a knowledge‐centered culture.

Originality/value

Empirical evidence obtained in this study will be of use not only to social economy organizations wanting to become knowledge management ones, but also to researchers wanting to develop a more comprehensive framework of factors that influence (positively or negatively) knowledge management, specifically within social economy organizations.

Keywords

Citation

Cardoso, L., Meireles, A. and Ferreira Peralta, C. (2012), "Knowledge management and its critical factors in social economy organizations", Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 16 No. 2, pp. 267-284. https://doi.org/10.1108/13673271211218861

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2012, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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