Knowledge Management (KM) in the Maltese pharmaceutical sector : linking KM enablers, KM processes and organisational effectiveness
Year: 2018
Type: dissertation
Abstract: In today’s knowledge economy, knowledge is recognised as the most valuable \nresource for an organisation, helping it sustain its competitive advantage. This is more \nso in knowledge intensive sectors such as the Maltese Pharmaceutical Sector where \nknowledge related activities are the core activities that add value to the operations of \nthese organisations. Understanding the successes and failures of Knowledge \nManagement (KM) initiatives has been difficult since previous attempts at investigating \nthe relationship between KM enablers, KM processes and organisational effectiveness \nhave been fragmented mainly due to the fact that such relationships have either been \nexamined in isolation or studies have been limited to only a few KM enablers, leaving \nother important ones out. \nIn order to address this gap in the KM literature, this study adopted a concurrent \n(convergent parallel) mixed methods research design (QUAN + QUAL) to investigate \nthe relationship between KM enablers, KM processes and organisational effectiveness. \nAn integrative model encompassing a more complete array of KM enablers namely \ntrust, collaboration, learning, centralisation, formalisation, KM strategy, intrinsic \nrewards, T-shaped skills, IT support and transformational leadership; four KM \nprocesses (knowledge creation, knowledge organisation, knowledge application and \nknowledge protection); and organisational effectiveness was investigated through the \nquantitative study which drew from a web-based questionnaire that was split into three \nparts separated by a two-week gap and distributed to 230 organisations in the Maltese \nPharmaceutical Sector. The 205 responses (a response rate of 89.13%) obtained \nformed the basis of the empirical testing using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). \nTo complement the findings of the quantitative study and to explore further the \nperceptions and views of practitioners in the Maltese Pharmaceutical Sector about KM, \na qualitative study was carried out using structured interviews. 20 participants were \ninterviewed with the transcribed interview data analysed using a template analysis \ntechnique. \nThe integrative model developed through the quantitative study showed that KM \nenablers (excluding trust, collaboration & T-shaped skills) produced direct effects on \nKM processes. IT support and transformational leadership emerged as strong \nantecedents of the KM processes. Only knowledge creation and knowledge protection \nhad a direct effect on organisational effectiveness and mediated the relationship \nbetween some KM enablers and organisational effectiveness. Besides \ncomplementing the findings of the quantitative study, the qualitative study concluded \nthat KM is a fairly new concept for the Maltese Pharmaceutical Sector and it is still at \nits infancy stage. Even though there is a lack of a formal KM strategy, both codification \nstrategies and personalisation strategies (essential elements of a KM strategy) exist \nand are undertaken. Whilst knowledge protection is high on the agenda of the \nparticipants, more effort must be directed towards the organisation and application of \nessential organisational knowledge. Finally, metrics intended to measure effects of \ninitiatives geared at improving organisational effectiveness are lacking. It is also hoped \nthat this research can stimulate future studies were data are collected and analysed at \ndifferent points in time thus identifying any patterns in variable relationships over time \nand any possible feedback loop mechanisms. Applying this research to different \nknowledge intensive sectors such as the financial sector can also be an interesting \navenue for future research.
Source: OAR@UM (University of Malta)
Author: David Baldacchino
Language: English
Subfield: Strategy and Management
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2953710242