Exploring effective work unit knowledge management (KM): roles of network, task, and KM strategies

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the potential contribution of inter-unit network structure and intra-unit task environment to the overall knowledge management (KM) effectiveness of an organization through different KM strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

The survey method was used to empirically test the hypotheses. The authors administered two survey forms: a member-survey form that obtained responses from members of each work unit and a leader-survey form issued only to the leader of each unit to obtain his/her perception on inter-unit communications.

Findings

The findings indicate that both a unit’s boundary-spanning role and its extensive interaction with other units help promote the unit’s overall KM effectiveness. In addition, the authors found that task variety was significantly related to the use of both personalization and codification of KM strategies in the unit, and that a unit’s KM strategy played a mediating role between intra-unit task characteristics and KM effectiveness.

Originality/value

Few studies have attempted to address what makes some work units within an organization more effective in their use of knowledge than others. This study provides an understanding of the influence of inter-unit social network structure on KM effectiveness, as well as the influence of intra-unit task environment and KM strategies on KM effectiveness. The findings suggest that inter-unit knowledge exchange and a unit’s brokering role can be a vital component of a work unit’s KM strategy, and that for successful KM in a work unit, an organization should not only establish appropriate inter-unit relationship but also develop the unit’s own KM strategies.

Citation

Song, S. and Sun, J. (2018), "Exploring effective work unit knowledge management (KM): roles of network, task, and KM strategies", Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 22 No. 7, pp. 1614-1636. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-10-2017-0449