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This paper aims to discuss the barriers and practices associated with knowledge management (KM), which is characterized as an important management tool to add value to products and services of companies and, thus, allow them to become more competitive and unique, of large Brazilian companies.

As a conceptual framework, the author adopted the main theories on KM to extract the barriers and practices included in the literature, aiming to confirm them through quantitative research with managers from large Brazilian companies. Based on the responses obtained, the author conducted several multivariate analyses, including descriptive analysis, factor analysis, cluster analysis and multinomial logistic regression.

In addition to presenting the main barriers and key practices associated with KM, our main result also presents a model for the evaluation of the level of maturity in KM based on the practices adopted by large Brazilian companies.

The main result presents a model for the evaluation of the level of maturity in KM based on the practices adopted by large Brazilian companies.

Due to importance of knowledge management (KM) strategies in successful implementation of KM processes and saving time and expense, selection of suitable KM strategies has been changed to be a major concern by many organizations. Therefore, this is necessary for organizations to move along KM processes in selection and establishment of their strategies at their first step. An influential factor in selection of KM strategies is measurement and identification of an organization’s condition of its knowledge maturity. Accordingly, this paper aims to select and prioritize KM strategies as proportionate with an organization’s level of maturity.

For that, the author-constructed questionnaire was designated based on the opinions made by experts acquainted with KM and KM strategies. According to experts’ opinions, the paradigm for suggestion of strategies was elucidated based on KM’s level of maturity. Afterwards, the standard questionnaire knowledge navigator model was used to evaluate the organization’s level of maturity, and KM strategies for the organization were proposed based on identified level of maturity. Finally, proposed KM strategies were ranked using the fuzzy TOPSIS technique.

In this study, a paradigm for selection of suitable KM strategies was proposed based on Hansen KM strategy as per maturity level of the organization’s KM. Then, knowledge conditions of a research organization were evaluated, and, after maturity level of that organization’s KM was assessed, different criteria of Hansen KM strategy were suggested for each level independently. Research results are indicative of the fact that the intended organization is placed at the second level of KM maturity. Therefore, personalization strategies are proposed for this organization based on the elucidated paradigm. Moreover, development of work communities and development of face-to-face interactions among staff through continuous meetings were chosen as the most significant KM strategies in this organization.

This paper is one of the leading studies carried out in the purview of codification of KM strategies according to different organizations’ level of maturity. Results of this study might be used as guidelines by different organizations, academic people and experts intending to codify KM strategies.

The purpose of this paper is to describe a framework designed to assess the capacity of a knowledge management (KM) system to facilitate new knowledge creation.

A longitudinal case study methodology, in a single company, Pratt Whitney Rocketdyne (PWR), was used to test the framework.

New knowledge creation is best supported through mature KM systems that include all four modes of knowledge creation: combination, externalization, socialization, and internalization. KM systems and environments as a whole reach maturity by progressing through stages, which is presented as a KM maturity model.

By combining Nonaka's knowledge creation theory with Wittrock's generative learning activities, the paper illuminates both the why and how of new knowledge creation, in a way that can be applied to KM technological initiatives. One of the limitations of this study is the generalizability of the findings, which may be limited by the single case study method used.

The framework provides a rubric against which both old and new KM initiatives can be assessed to determine whether they are capable of generating new knowledge. The maturity model provides a template against which organizations can map their progress towards a mature KM environment.

Much of the literature on KM systems has focused on capturing knowledge and disseminating it. Few studies have provided practical, theoretically based advice on how to create new knowledge and what aspects of information systems can facilitate that creation. The framework and maturity model can serve as guides in that process.

Wilson argues that knowledge management (KM) maturity is an extension of information management and effective management of work practices. Gallagher and Hazlett state that there is too much effort addressing technological concerns in KM while offering little practical assistance. Kruger and Snyman believe KM is a strategic resource with ICT and information management as enablers in establishing KM maturity. These three positions of KM growth and maturity reflect the huge spectrum of and diverse views. But, very little is known about the KM growth or maturity that occurs in different industries, or how employees and managers perceive growth in KM maturity. This paper aims to address these issues.

From a large urban South African University engaged in numerous collaboration programmes with industry, the authors gain insight into the growth of KM in industry groupings over a five‐year period. The authors apply an inventory developed by Kruger and Snyman to a set of 86 organisations distributed over nine economic sectors in South Africa. In total 434 employees are interviewed over three group levels (operational, middle and senior management). This is achieved by interviewing 178 senior practitioners in three subjects (one in each group level).

Analysis of the growth in KM maturity, as it relates to different organisational sizes, reveals that there are statistical differences between the score reported by small, medium, large and extra‐large organisations and between the scores reported by senior, middle and operational personnel. Findings also indicate that growth in KM differs between industry groupings, with high growth in construction, building materials and mining (±70 per cent), and low growth in educational institutions (±40 per cent).

This paper is of relevance to KM practitioners interested in gaining insight into KM maturity growth that occurred in different organisational groupings and at different operational levels across an extremely diversified environment.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a model for measuring knowledge management maturity level in organizations.

This paper defines and extracts effective factors and indicators on knowledge management and proposes a schema for prioritizing and specifying the weight of each factor and variable. The paper further surveys and evaluates existing knowledge management models and presents a knowledge management maturity model with defined factors and variables.

Defining and extracting 8 factors and 42 variables that affect knowledge management and subsequently developing a knowledge management maturity model. The model of this study is practical and helps to determine the maturity position of an organization in knowledge management by defining existing status of in factors and variables, and from the prioritization of factors and variables enabling the organization to optimize its profile.

For increasing generalization of model, future should utilize other organizations in diverse industries.

The base model of this research is CMMI instead of CMM and instead of KPAs we use CSFs and for measuring maturity position of organization using a questionnaire. This research model can be utilized as an alternative model in comparison to existing models.

Selection of knowledge management strategies (KMS) is one of the most important and effective factors in acquiring the competitive advantage and elevating the knowledge level of the organizations. Those organizations that have taken steps toward knowledge management necessarily need to pay utmost attention to the matter of KMS before taking any further steps in their activities. One of the effective ways in adopting the proper KMS is evaluating the knowledge management maturity level in the organization. The purpose of this paper is to design an expert fuzzy system to adopt the KMS based on Bloodgood model in accordance with the maturity level of the organization.

In this method, with the help of expert fuzzy system, a model has been designed, by using MATLAB software, to adopt the KMS. The KM maturity level, tacit knowledge and explicit knowledge are chosen as inputs, and each one of Bloodgood’s KMS (production, transfer and protecting the knowledge) are chosen as outputs. To perform the system, the maturity level of knowledge management of an industrial organization that has been evaluated by the standard Asian Productivity Organization questionnaire is used as the input, which has been given to expert fuzzy system. Then, considering the output of the system, KMS for the organization have been recommended.

Knowledge management maturity level of the organization is on Level 4; considering the expert fuzzy system that has been designed, “knowledge production” strategy is recommended for the organization under study.

An expert fuzzy system has been designed regarding the maturity of knowledge management and Bloodgood model that can be used as a guide for organizations and academic people as an appropriate practical model for selecting knowledge management strategies.

The institutionalization of knowledge management (KM) principles, policies and strategies could be summarized as being diverse, problematic and located across the spectrum of views. Studies suggest that very little is reported on how these principles are institutionalized in organizations. This paper seeks to examine the role these principles play in the establishment of KM and report on an empirical study conducted in 86 South African‐based organizations.

From a large urban South African University engaged in numerous collaboration programs with industry, the authors gained insight into KM maturity in industry groupings over a five‐year period. The authors applied an inventory developed by Kruger and Snyman to a set of 86 organizations distributed over nine economic sectors in South Africa. In total 434 employees were interviewed over three managerial levels (operational, middle, and senior). This was achieved by having 178 senior practitioners to each interview three subjects (one in each group level).

Findings indicate that there is a definite trend towards the establishment of KM principles and the successful implementation of KM across South African industries. Industries achieving higher than average scores in the establishment of KM principles also achieved higher than average scores in the implementation of KM. Findings strongly support the argument that elements such as the formulation of strategy, measurement, policy, content, process, technology and culture enable or influence KM ability to manage knowledge.

The paper is of relevance to KM practitioners interested in gaining insight into KM maturity that occurred in the extremely diversified environment of South Africa.

The purpose of this paper is to combine different perspectives concerning knowledge management (KM), thus developing a theoretical framework that could be used, as a basic strategic tool, both to control and to plan KM level of implementation.

Bringing together previous research in KM and providing an analysis of the main issues discussed in the literature, an integrative framework for evaluating the level of implementation of knowledge management within organizations is proposed.

The major contribution is the final theoretical framework proposed, which allows the possibility to dynamically analyze the evolution of the KM maturity level of an organization, thus assuming a relevant strategic importance.

The model proposed provides only the basis for an extensive analysis on the topic. Further research could focus on the quantitative development of the suggested framework.

The paper is very useful in practical terms. From a static perspective, a manager can use the resulted framework as a strategic tool able to portray the level of implementation of KM within his organization. From a dynamic perspective, the framework could be adopted to analyze the evolution of the KM within the organization, thus gaining deeper understanding on the link between KM and organizational change.

This paper presents a novel framework. Unlike previous literature on KM, this paper combined numerous perspectives in the field and provides a useful strategic tool.

Research into professional services firms that have successfully implemented and adopted Web 2.0 tools are still rare, with no widely known accepted methodologies or frameworks. The purpose of this case study is to investigate a medium-sized law firm that embarked on a KM programme that makes explicit use of emergent enterprise-based Web 2.0 tools.

The overlying research methodology applied is action research, in particular participatory action research (PAR). The study draws on interviews with practitioners, consultants and knowledge workers and takes into consideration multiple stakeholder views and value conflicts. The project is part of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership between RPC LLP and Westminster Business School.

Implementation of Web 2.0 tools in professional services requires the blending of a number of approaches to address the intrinsic tension between the open, participative behaviour and iterative development methodologies encouraged by social tools, and more traditional management styles and methods of developing IT solutions.

This article presents a single case study based on a law firm that, at the start of the research, was operating from a single location in London and at the time of writing has expanded to multiple locations, including overseas. There may be a limitation to implementing lessons learned and methodologies to larger organisations and organisations outside the legal sector.

While many organisations are still attempting to understand how they can practically implement Web 2.0 tools, this case study presents findings from a law firm that has had an internal Web 2.0-based knowledge solution in place for over two years. The research also makes use of a KM maturity model in order to assess the impact of the Web 2.0 implementation.