What drives inter-organisational knowledge management? The cause and effect analysis using a multi-layer multi-criteria decision-making framework

Hannan Amoozad Mahdiraji , Moein Beheshti, Vahid Jafari-Sadeghi, Alexeis Garcia-Perez

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    47 Citations (Scopus)
    398 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Purpose: Knowledge management seeks collaborative practices among organisations to generate technical, adapt and share knowledge to obtain a sustainable competitive advantage in cross-border business activities. This paper aims to disentangle the crucial determinants of knowledge management in inter-organisational arrangements settings. Design/methodology/approach: In the first stage, after an in-depth literature review, the main knowledge management drivers are identified. In the second stage, based on the identified drivers, the importance and relationship between the drivers are evaluated by expert opinions from academic and executive activists. Eventually, in the last stage, a multi-layer decision-making approach has been proposed and used to determine the relationship and the importance of the drivers. Findings: The findings of this paper assess the ranking of the different elements from experts’ opinions and discuss important theoretical and managerial implications. The influential factors were identified through an extensive literature review, which combined with the views of experts from academia and industry (international firms). Furthermore, the ranking of factors based on the experts’ overall opinion was used to discuss theoretical and managerial contributions. Originality/value: This research provides a better understanding of the interrelationships between the key drivers of knowledge management, which helps management draw more effective strategies to address the cultural differences between firms. Moreover, understanding of the importance of the systems and structures that define the nature of the collaboration in inter-organisational settings, as well as the risks related to those are presented in this research.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)2195-2221
    Number of pages27
    JournalJournal of Knowledge Management
    Volume26
    Issue number9
    Early online date24 Nov 2021
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 23 Sept 2022

    Bibliographical note

    Copyright © and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.

    Publisher Copyright:
    © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.

    Keywords

    • DEMATEL-based analytic network process (DANP)
    • Decision-making
    • Grey decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (G-DEMATEL)
    • Inter-organisational arrangements
    • Knowledge management

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Strategy and Management
    • Management of Technology and Innovation

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