Abstract: The objective of this study is to provide organizations with a pragmatic understanding of how the knowledge management leadership in today's E-Business corporations would enhance meaning in the workplace for all its constituents. The main research question addressed by this study is whether the KM leadership has an effect on the outcome of the return on investments, and specifically whether the KM affects the process of organizational structure. An in-depth review of theory, research, and practice is undertaken to understand the KM leadership. Five years of KM research, case studies and surveys, and interviews of KM leadership from E-Business corporations are used to provide real world understanding of the value add of the KM leadership. This study investigates whether the current global market offers sufficient accommodation to the KM leadership, and how information technology strategies can support the KM leadership in strengthening the benefits of KM to the E-Business excellence. Introduction The knowledge economy has become a reality for many organizations worldwide. Knowledge can be defined as an understanding gained from experience (Weidner, 2002). Knowledge Management (KM) may simply be defined as doing what is needed to get the most out of knowledge resources (Becerra-Fernandez; Gonzalez; Sabherwal, 2004). KM has become embedded in the policy, strategy, and implementation processes of worldwide corporations, governments, and institutions (Malhotra, 2005). KM is an exciting concept and can provide a platform for the integration of many disciplines - human resources (HR), and information technology (IT); process re-design and content & information management; strategic planning and corporate learning. All play a part in creating KM environments. Identifying KM activities with real business benefits, the leadership to implement calls for an unusual mix of skills (TFPL, 2005). Earl and Scott (1999), Bonner (2000), and Abell and Oxbrow (1999) attempted to identify competencies and skills that KM leadership or those charged with implementing a KM vision need. The KM leadership refers to the persons responsible for the development of a knowledge management strategy closely linked to the objectives of an organization, the marketing of information sharing, the management of disseminating knowledge projects within an organization, and the related technological infrastructure management (CKO online, 2005). KM leadership is springing to life in public and private sector organizations addressing a perceived unmet need to capitalize on knowledge-based assets. KM leaders possess a different mix of hard and soft skills (Neilson, 2001). To provide new insights, new perspectives and a new understanding into the dynamics of knowledge-conscious management and its potential for improving business performance and profitability, a group of twenty of the world's leading knowledge executives developed a 'knowledge proposition' during the sixth annual Chief Knowledge Officers (CKO) Summit held in Dublin, Ireland in October, 2003. In this proposition a knowledge framework was presented. It maps the focus of knowledge in terms of the three elements - expertise, information and ideas, and the dimensions of intervention - people, technology, and processes. Together this 3 by 3 matrix provides a map for planning, decision and actions. The knowledge proposition states that: 'Significant additional stakeholder value and competitive advantage will be derived if the expertise, information and ideas of employees, partners and customers are continually developed and used in all business and decision-making processes'. Based on the proposition, the study predicts that the key to competitive advantage is a KM leadership, where E-Business vision provides the opportunity to improve enterprise-wide processes, and KM workers strengthens the organizations technological structure to create a successful marketing environment, Fig.1: Based on the theory and research, the study envisions a future in which the discipline of KM and the KM leadership will help make the processes and techniques explicit. …
Publication Year: 2006
Publication Date: 2006-07-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 6
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