Initiating, challenging and improving knowledge in organizational contexts

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate how organizational knowledge interacts with artifacts and what determinants, driving processes and outcomes govern these interactions in organizational contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study is used and data collected is from a US engineering and consulting company.

Findings

Findings suggested three major driving processes specifically initiating, challenging and improving and several related determinants and outcomes that governed the interaction between organizational knowledge and artifacts over time.

Research limitations/implications

This study has limitations related to the nature and dimension of the case selected.

Practical implications

This study provides a means to explain how organizations hold existing knowledge and what determinants, driving processes and outcomes govern the interactions between knowledge and artifacts to assist managerial practices and improve performance.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the current debate on organizational knowledge and provides some empirical evidence of how knowledge interacts with artifacts in organizational contexts.

Citation

Mariano, S. (2019), "Initiating, challenging and improving knowledge in organizational contexts", Management Research Review, Vol. 41 No. 3, pp. 278-295. https://doi.org/10.1108/MRR-02-2017-0028