A Model of Organizational Knowledge Management Maturity based on People, Process, and Technology (original) (raw)

Abstract

Organizations are increasingly investing in knowledge management (KM) initiatives to promote the sharing, application, and creation of knowledge for competitive advantage. To guide and assess the progress of KM initiatives in organizations, various models have been proposed but a consistent approach that has been empirically tested is lacking. Based on the life cycle theory, this paper reviews, compares, and integrates existing models to propose a General KM Maturity Model (G-KMMM). G-KMMM encompasses the initial, aware, defined, managed, and optimizing stages, which are differentiated in terms of their characteristics related to the people, process, and technology aspects of KM. To facilitate empirical validation and application, an accompanying assessment tool is also explicated. As an initial validation of the proposed G-KMMM, a case study of a multi-unit information system organization of a large public university was conducted. Findings indicate that G-KMMM is a useful diagnostic tool that can assess and direct KM implementation in organizations.

Key takeaways

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  1. The proposed General Knowledge Management Maturity Model (G-KMMM) consists of five stages: initial, aware, defined, managed, and optimizing.
  2. G-KMMM integrates people, process, and technology aspects for comprehensive KM assessment.
  3. Organizations in the U.S. projected to spend $85 billion on KM initiatives in 2008.
  4. An accompanying assessment tool for G-KMMM facilitates empirical validation and practical application.
  5. Case study at a large public university validates G-KMMM's effectiveness as a diagnostic tool for KM initiatives.

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