Question
Measuring Knowledge Management
Are are any model/cases/software available for measuring effectiveness of Knowledge Management?
All Answers (25)
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This is a big subject. The short answer is, "sometimes". If the organisation measures success in financial terms, it's much easier: for example, using KM saved us X dollars by "locating a nearby spare part and hence reducing downtime/increasing the knowledge of sales staff and consequently sales/helping us make better quality loan decisions" (all 3 of these are based on real cases, btw). For non-financial measures, it's much harder: I looked at the ROI of KM on reducing health and safety incidents, but it was impossible to identify key factors that led to reduction in H&S incidents, and therefore impossible to quantify the contribution of KM to those key factors.
Check out the MAKE (Most Admired Knowledge Enterprise) awards; entrants to that are pretty much required to demonstrate ROI on KM. -
knowledge management is a discipline itself... please specify the aspects where you want to judge the effectiveness
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@uzma in terms of learner. -
Some years ago we conducted a study on the effects of Knowledge Management on innovation in enterprises from various industries.
The outcomes are summarized in the project report "Creation of Innovation through Knowledge Management" available on http://www.metconsult.com/html/english/CIKM%20project%20report.pdf . -
Thanks Norbert, I will refer the link.
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The firt step consists in specifying the knowledge management goals. Than, you have to design the process by which you intend to produce your expected outcomes. In order to answer your question about models, I would like to know how you define knowledge management. Is knowledge transfer the same for you? -
An input-output evaluation (compare John's comment above) is a valid first order approach to the measurement of knowledege management effects. However, it delivers not much for the management of the related processes. As a second order approach, suitable operationalization therefore is required. This begins with the specification of knowledge objects and investigation of knowledge flows. And it is pretty much dependent on the (business) area and function involved.
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Dear Diane currently lets handle knowledge transfer.
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I see nice answers,also you can follow something about Knowledge measuring based on SECI model in my article(attached to my wall in Researchgate),based on this method KM inititives affect on four kind of knowledge simulated in VENSIM. -
A comprehensive investigation (though in German language) on the subject was provided by R. Reinhardt: Wissen als Ressource; EVdW, Frankfurt a. M., 2002. No surprise, it does not suggest a generally applicable method for the measurement of the effects of knowledge management.
A conclusion to draw is to use key performance indicators (KPI). These can be designed suited to the domain and functions under investigation. Note that such an approach is process oriented, i.e. it will deliver results by comparative assessment over time. -
Read an interesting article regarding the same topic,
http://www.linkedin.com/groupItem?type=member&qid=3668bbfb-d23d-4ca1-b142-dad922f3a6ff&trk=group_items_see_more-0-b-ttl&item=26816886&gid=154868&view= -
It is a interesting question. From a point of view that knowledge can't be quantified it's hard to think about a way to measure it. Perhaps we can split the process of knowledge and try to measure either socialization (e.g: how much connected are the people in the organization) or externalization (e.g: how much informations was created in a gap of time) and try to do the same with the others phases. It's just an idea.... -
Ronaldo:
To the socialization part: In Jansen, Justin J. P., Frans A. J. Van Den Bosch, and Henk W. Volberda: “Managing potential and realized absorptive capacity: How do organizational antecedents matter?” Academy of Management Journal, 48(6): 999-1015. New York, 2005, there is an investigation of organizational antecedents and socialization/ connectedness that may be of interest here.
To the externalization: This is very much a question of what information is taken into consideration and how this is specified (and then can be identified) as externalized knowledge. For the field of interorganizational collaborative software development we suggested the concept of "knowledge objects" that may be helpful here.
(cf. Jastroch, N.: Advancing Adaptivity in Enterprise Collaboration. Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics, JSCI, Vol. 7/6, pp. 7-11, 2009
and
N. Jastroch, T.J. Marlowe, V. Kirova, M. Mohtashami: Dams, Flows and Views: Cross-Aspect Use of Knowledge in Collaborative Software Development. Special issue on Collaborative Enterprises; Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics, JSCI, Vol. 9/5, pp. 36 - 40, December 2011 ) -
I will check these papers. Thank you, Norbert.
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There are three models of KM and KMS assessment success, they're based in Delone and McLean model of information systems success. I've wrote a paper that is in typesetting at the moment and is a review of this models that I've summarized the variables that the models cover in a matrix: I believe that this paper could be useful to you. I will post here the link, when the paper is ready. -
one possible approach in measuring knowledge management effectiveness is measurement of companies intellectual capital growth because knowledge management implementation is supposed to improve company's intellectual capital of course in long term. if you are interested in this approach I will be glad to help you. -
There are many issues related to this topic.
1) Perforrmance Management. There are many issues such as monetary vs non-monetary resutls, direct vs. indirect measures, proactive vs reactive activities...
2) Source and flow of knowledge, information, and data.
3) One of the major sources Intellectual Capital would include Human Capital (competency), Structural Capital, and Relationship Capital (customer, supplier, alliance, scoial). They are assets, so building them and utlilzation are performance measures
4) Organizational Learning.
5) Strategic isses includes business objectives, competitive intellligence system, R&D strategic development.... -
Dear colleague,
I used in my research the intellectual capital items of Youndt and Snell (2004) divided in three variables: human, social and organizational capital.
Paper: "Human resource management, intellectual capital, and organizational performance" (Refereed) - Journal of Managerial Issues - 2004 - v. 16, no. 3, pp. 337-360.
Kind regards
Jesus Barrena -
Well, the discussion is going on the right track, and the question is productive and catchy. I believed that before measuring any anything we must know about its existence. Therefore, I have proposed an integrated intellectual capital model, comprising on six components of intellectual capital namely human capital, customer capital, structural capital, social capital, technological capital and spiritual capital. I have applied the integrated intellectual model (IICM) in Malaysian and Pakistani knowledge intensive SMEs and the findings showed that all these components of intellectual capital are existed in SMEs and the management believed that these components are the major catalyst of innovation and competitive edge. There is a need to validate the IICM in other countries also. I think this will be a avenue for potential researchers in intellectual capital field. Any how wish you good luck -
I'm very interested in the model. I'm testing this three components of Youndt and Snell (2004) in Spain in big firms of more than 250 employees. Did you have any recent publication of the topic or this is a work in progress?
Thanks in advance, and good luck with your research! -
Yes, I have, Jesus you can find the (IICM) model on http://www.journalcra.com/?q=node/638
the title of article is "Intellectual capital and its major components" year 2011 -
I did my PhD and I tested the IICM you can test this model in your country
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Thank you very much for sharing your ideas. I'll take a view of the model in the following days. I'm currently doing my PhD in Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Resource Management.
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Here's the link to the paper I've told you about: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235917545_The_Matrix_of_Quality_Dimensions_of_Knowledge_Management_Knowledge_Management_Assessement_Models_Review
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We produced a paper regarding the nature of intellectual capital, and the development of intellectual capital theory, you can find at International Journal of Learning and Intellectual Capital. and the link is http://www.inderscience.com/info/ingeneral/forthcoming.php?jcode=ijlic
