Maturity measurement of knowledge‐intensive business processes

Abstract

Purpose

The methods of quality management, business process management and knowledge management have until now been exploited by science and the industry separately. An integration of these disciplines could unlock the potential of a solid structure to measure and gradually improve knowledge transfer processes. This paper aims to address this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

A maturity model was developed for SMEs to measure and assess the quality of their business processes. This enabled the companies to determine their existing status and to take the necessary actions for the competence development of their business processes, which should contribute to the attainment of their knowledge management goals.

Research limitations/implications

This paper introduces a maturity model for knowledge‐intensive business processes that enables companies to determine their processes' actual state and take the corresponding actions for their business processes improvement, in which special attention is being given to small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs).

Originality/value

The paper proposes an SME‐specified maturity model for knowledge‐intensive business processes. Its assessment procedure is developed based on literature researches and investigation of real processes of two industrial SMEs. This maturity model has advantages over other existing models since it accounts for the needs of SMEs by incorporating the company preference over the measured areas.

Citation

Jochem, R., Geers, D. and Heinze, P. (2011), "Maturity measurement of knowledge‐intensive business processes", The TQM Journal, Vol. 23 No. 4, pp. 377-387. https://doi.org/10.1108/17542731111139464