Knowledge Managements for Improvement the Competitiveness of Organization.
Paulova, Iveta ; Vanova, Jaromira ; Rusko, Miroslav 等
Knowledge Managements for Improvement the Competitiveness of Organization.
1. Introduction
Currently, we are exposed to large turbulence of changes, the
stimulus of that are often unexpected changes, in particular, from the
external environment. If the organizations want to win the competition
and at the same time to handle the pressures, they must focus in
particular on human potential that is leading to the so-called learning
organization and this is only a step towards the knowledge management.
Today, there is a growing recognition in the business community
about the importance of managing knowledge as a critical source for
competitive advantage. Researchers in the field of sustainable
competitive advantage have discovered that knowledge, that includes what
the organization knows, how it uses what it knows, and how fast it can
know something new is the only thing that offers an organization a
competitive edge. Knowledge is the thermonuclear competitive weapon of
our time; knowledge and its management are more valuable and more
powerful than natural resources, big factories, or fat bankrolls [5].
For the restriction of negative influences on sustainable
development assurance, some relevant measures are adopted, that have as
a task to inform, mobilize, and regulate an activity to limit or
eliminate its influences [7]. A positive approach of business and
industry to sustainable development can be increased by economic tools
[10]. It requires the environmental oriented monitoring in the
manufacturing company and the optimization of management [14].
Information is a specific type of asset that represents value for the
company (base for decision making processes) and has to be treated
carefully [2]. The concept of knowledge management takes into account
all of the above-mentioned areas [6].
The concept of the learning organization is connected with the name
of Peter Senge. According to him, the learning organization is the
place: "where the people still improve their ability to achieve the
desired results, where a flexible and systemic thinking is supported,
where people learn and work together" [11].
Learning organization is the one that creates for its people all
the conditions, so they can learn anywhere and constantly
[1]. However, it is not about an organization that has drawn up a
plan of education, and in which all employees are involved in management
training. It is the organization's ability to cope with rapid
changes, its readiness to respond flexibly and successfully to survive
in changing conditions [9].
2. Knowledge of an organization in the context of the standard ISO
9001: 2015 requirements
Our present era is characterized by the so-called information
revolution, that motivated the governments to recognize its importance
and its implications on the development of social, economic, cultural
and political [12]. The organization, that is characterized by how
readily it is adapting to the market, by transferring the responsibility
of deciding on their staff and by readiness to change, can be described
as a learning organisation that results in the knowledge management. An
organization that learns with the correction of its behaviour and
decisions, and in doing so it is based on the information obtained from
both the internal and external environment. Internal environment can be,
for example, the innovation of new products, the results of the analysis
of corporate climate, suggestions or criticism on briefings, financial
reports. Important are also some information from the external
environment--customer complaints, opening of new markets, new
technologies existence, competition proceedings, changes in the
customer's interests [8]. The learning organization requires
systemically managing knowledge that are specific to the organization.
The big positive is the fact that these approaches are already enshrined
in the new requirements of the standard ISO 9001: 2015.
2.1. Approach of managers in a learning organization
The philosophy of a learning organization requires major changes in
the thinking of executives--of managers, at which the role of a manager
is changing to the one of a leader. If the manager decides on
everything, he does not have to deal with more time-demanding informing
the people, with collecting of their views and ideas. This has the
advantage for subordinates that, in turn, it is not required of them to
be critical or creative thinking; they have just to carry out
regulations. With that there is closely related an art to communicate.
The keystone of success in good communication is the clarity and
intelligibility, for to get things done in a real time [3]. We were
based on these ideas when we were performing an analysis of the level of
perception of the employees in these areas.
Organizations are increasingly realizing that the learning and
development activities must be based on the strategy of the
organization. This means that the management is increasingly going to
have to put more emphasis on the organizational needs and to allow
people to develop so as to promote the implementation of the principles
of a learning organization, and not to aim on short-term training
activities. Such a learning requires continued and meaningful
interaction between people and such a working environment that supports
and stimulates learning, and hence the growth of the organization and
the individuals in it. It is, however, necessary to make changes,
especially in organizations where there is prevalent a tradition of
rules, in which the structure, systems and procedures were introduced to
maintain stability by preserving the status quo, at any cost.
2.2. Standard requirements for knowledge management of organisation
The current approach to the quality management system can be
described as an approach to the pursuit of the success and
competitiveness of organizations. The chapter 7.1.6 The knowledge of the
organization in ISO 9001: 2015 standard is devoted to this area. This is
a new requirement of the standard from that it is clear that knowledge
of the organization are an important source. According to the ISO
9001:2015: "Organizations shall determine the knowledge that is
necessary for the functioning of its processes and for achievement
conformity of products and services. In addressing some changing needs
and trends, the organizations must consider their current knowledge and
determine how to acquire all the necessary knowledge and required
updates or how to ensure an access to them. Knowledge of organization
can be based on internal resources (intellectual property, knowledge
gained through experience, lessons learned from the mistakes and
successful projects, collecting and sharing of non-documented knowledge
and experience, etc.). It also can be based on external sources, such as
participation in conferences, collaboration with academic communities,
and the acquisition of knowledge from customers or from other interested
parties."
Management of the organization includes, in particular, the setting
of the entire management system--setting values and rules of the
organization, setting up an organizational structure, resource
management, processes and performance settings. In the interest of the
organization is to determine all the necessary management skills of the
organization, for knowledge of its employees to be continuously
developing and ensured and to be available to all who need them. [15]
3. Implementation of the requirements of knowledge management and
learning organization on the example of a particular production
organization
In the framework of the research projects we carried out, inter
alia, a survey of the level of the requirements fulfilment of the
knowledge management in a particular production organization. There was
determined the level from the perspective of the individual options of
personal growth, some opportunities to develop the skills of staff as
well as the possibility of using diverse modes of learning.
3.1. Methodology of the survey
Analysis (survey) of selected areas, that touches on elements of a
learning organization making for knowledge management, was made in the
form of a questionnaire in a manufacturing organization with a staff of
320, that means a large organization is concerned. The organization has
implemented the system of quality management (STN EN ISO 9001: 2016)
[13], of environment (ISO 14001:2015) and of security (OHSAS 18001)
management. The survey was attended by 270 employees, i.e. by 75,7 % and
was carried out following the recertification to new standards in the
field of quality and environment management.
3.2. Results of the survey and a summary of the results
The results of the survey (Fig. 1. and Fig. 2.) show that the staff
perceives the possibility of personal individual growth and the further
professional growth as critical or very important, and demonstrate a
level satisfactory of the satisfaction. Figures are tied up or very
closely related to each other.
An excellent result--very satisfying--is said by about 20% of the
employees. A third of employees, found the standard condition (they
expressed neutrally). From that results that they are not interested in
their personal and professional growth. At a more thorough analysis of
the individual questionnaires (importance vs. satisfaction rate and
education level) there was manifested a kind of a direct link between:
* the importance of personal and professional growth and the level
of education,
* the satisfaction with personal development and further education
and the level of education.
Direct dependence mostly appeared also between the importance and
level of satisfaction (assessment of the importance and degree of
satisfaction was almost the same in all cases), however, we believe that
employees questioned misunderstood the difference between the importance
and satisfaction. For this reason, we focus on the level of
satisfaction.
A considerable portion of the interviewed marked a degree of
satisfaction--rather satisfied (45-50%)) and one third of the questioned
has declared as neutral (neither satisfied nor unsatisfied). At a more
detailed analysis, it was found that the university-educated inquired
ones were less satisfied with a personal and further professional
development, as confirmed in the responses to the other related issues.
The sample given has an interest in constant education and to be
competent to carry out their activities and to progress in career
growth. The responses at the level of "very happy" have been
identified in the sectors that are the support for the production
management, that is, in the area of services and administration (mostly
covered by education in the field of legislation and laws). Less
satisfactory ratings of satisfaction were also identified in the
director-general section, where there is included also the top and
middle management of organization.
Next survey was focused on the results of the various target groups
(depending on the function and level of educational attainment), where
they showed direct proportion between greater satisfaction with the
diversity of learning and its achievement. Some dependence can also be
observed depending on the age of the asked. The survey showed that
younger respondents with a university degree expect more possibilities
of method or form of learning and they are interested in new lessons
also from other areas than professional ones and that could help also to
personal development. This is a very good potential of employees to
approaching a learning organisation and knowledge management. Similar
results we found in the other survey, where most of the organizations
(72 %) planned to create the conditions for knowledge management, as a
basis for the fulfilment of new approaches to the quality and
environment management, leading to an increase in the competitiveness.
Positive outcome of the survey is the fact that the organizations
created a good environment for the development of knowledge and
experience. There exist some opportunities for further individual
education, however, it is not about the systemic approach, but the ad
hoc solution. If an organization has an interest in learning
organization as a factor of competitiveness, it is necessary to create
the systemic approach to the development of knowledge and experience on
the basis of certain rules, which the organization determines by itself.
The Figure 3 reflects the attitudes that have been analysed from
previous pictures. This figure just confirms the areas and their direct
dependence on each area leading to the knowledge management. By
comparing the results of individual questions in the survey in a
particular organization it has been found and confirmed that the
organization that has a culture of a learning organization and has a
plan to manage knowledge as a tool for competitiveness, must at first
create an environment in organization, that will allow the key employees
to meet the expectations in the field of personal development, of
continuing professional training, the use of existing knowledge and
provide the power to decide at the activities related to the improvement
of processes and activities. Key staff should be an example to others,
thus ensuring the gradual spread of knowledge to all levels of
management and to all employees.
The key role is primarily of top managers, who have to change their
role from managers to the leaders. The basis is, of course, made up of a
strategy that is directed toward learning organization as one of the
deciding factors of competitiveness.
By comparing the current trends that are processed in specialist
publications of significant experts in the field given, as well as the
requirements of the new standards on quality and environment management
systems, it can be stated, that knowledge management is a way, which is
important for improving the competitiveness of the organization.
4. Opened questions and direction for further research
The key question is a "will" to create and to record
knowledge, because this path is a concept of several time- consuming
steps. The real problems are high and exaggerated expectations of the
system itself and also the fact that the concept in this area is still
being formed, so it is difficult to define whether the offered system is
a knowledge system. Just because someone claims that their information
system includes document management features, artificial intelligence
and knowledge management does not mean that it is really doing so. [4]
The further way of routing the research in this area should aim to
address the following questions:
* Is the management aware of the need for knowledge of the
organization as a basis for its growth and competitiveness?
* Are there, in general, identified knowledge in business subjects
that is stored in a way so that they are available to all who need them?
* Which requirements and priorities are considered by management
when deciding on the knowledge of the organization?
* What is important at the departure of the employees of the
company, who are the holders of the key knowledge? What is necessary to
ensure for the organization to protect this resource?
We do not consider these questions to be complete and final, but as
some starting point of the solution of the issue in theory and practice,
as well as a way of adapting to the requirements of the ISO 9001:2015
standard.
5. Conclusion
Within the resource-based perspective, information and knowledge
have become increasingly recognized as competitive differentiators. In
the knowledge-based view, organizational knowledge--such as operational
routines, skills or know-how--is acknowledged as the most valuable
asset. Currently, an industrial society is transformed into an
information society.
The main task of knowledge management is to obtain the
"correct" knowledge in the required time for specific
employees. For this reason, it is an inevitable requirement of the
learning organisations approaching the knowledge management to develop
the concept or a system, resp., to ensure a feedback from employees and
to listen to their "voice". The organisation must have a
corporate culture and create an environment for the possibility of
development of knowledge. This fact should be reflected in the values of
the organization. If the organization wants to be competitive and manage
knowledge sharing for the effective fulfilment of the objectives, it
must be reflected in the strategies of the organization, in the form and
management methods of its managers (leading to the change of managers to
the leaders), in the organization culture, and in the processes in the
organization as well. The knowledge management approaching the
competitiveness is a matter for the people, of the employees of the
particular organization, not the single technology or the use of a
quantity of tools and methods that the staff is not able to use and to
be uselessly absorbed in the chaos of non-systemic solutions.
Researchers in the field of sustainable competitive advantage have
discovered that knowledges of organisation that offers an organization a
competitive edge. Knowledge is the competitive force of our time,
knowledge and its management are frequently more valuable than natural
resources or fat bankrolls.
Knowledge management is based on the fact that the achievement of a
sustained competitive advantage depends on firm's capacity to
develop and deploy its knowledge-based resources. However, not all
resources are equally important for the achievement of this competitive
edge. Advance should be based an integrative framework of human capital
combining from three different areas of research: knowledge management,
intellectual capital, and strategic human resource management. Further
research may totally change the focus of knowledge management, but only
time will tell about this.
DOI: 10.2507/28th.daaam.proceedings.170
6. Acknowledgements
The paper is a part of VEGA 1/0990/15 research project The
readiness of industrial enterprises to implement the requirements of ISO
9001: 2015 standards for quality management systems and of ISO 14001:
2014 standards for environmental management systems. in the frame of the
project KEGA 048TUKE-4/2015 "Transfer of knowledge from
scientific-research activities into multimedia education process"
provided by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Slovak
Republic.
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Fig. 1. The ability of an individual's personal growth (date are in %)
importance level of satisfaction
1 27,3 19
2 48,5 50
3 23,4 24,6
4 0,4 4,7
5 0,4 1,7
Note: Table made from bar graph.
Fig. 2. The ability of professional growth (date are in %)
importance level of satisfaction
1 38,1 22,4
2 44,6 45,3
3 17,3 27,6
4 0 3
5 0 1,7
Note: Table made from bar graph.
Fig. 3. The use of the knowledge gained by educating
importance level of satisfaction
1 29,8 18,5
2 51,8 54
3 18 23,9
4 0,4 2,7
5 0 0,9
Note: Table made from bar graph.
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