Assessment methodology to prioritize knowledge management related activities to support organizational excellence

Abstract

So far, a systematic and comprehensive assessment tool to prioritize organizational development activities, especially in the currently intensely discussed domain of knowledge management is not available in the literature. Utilizing the here proposed methodology, which is derived from a four dimensional system theory based model on knowledge utilization within an organization, managerial decision makers save time and money in the early process of implementation of (pilot) knowledge management projects by prioritizing critical actions out of several options right from the beginning. The methodology stresses four levels of potential intervention, starting with the strategy focused target level, next a knowledge level covering all knowledge workers of an organization, then an action level focusing on operations and processes and finally a data level with the explicitly available stock of (digital) resources. All levels are discussed in detail. These levels are complemented by categories that help to address the organizational entities of the individual, the communication and interaction dependent team and the organization. Additionally these categories are expanded to include the corporate environment as well. By applying the resulting matrix of four levels to organizational development activities with special focus on knowledge management supporting activities, a comprehensive methodology to prioritize those development options is suggested. The methodology is illustrated by the example of the innovation process which is an appropriate starting point to improve the organizational excellence in terms of knowledge and learning.