Validation of the knowledge management stage model : a triangulation approach

Abstract

Although many researchers have investigated which factors are essential for managing knowledge effectively, there is little research which focuses on when and how the organization should manage them. A knowledge management stage model proposed by Lee and Kim (2001) is one of rare models which explain process of building organizational capacity of knowledge management. Admitting its contribution to both academy and practice by applying the strategic change and development theory of organization in knowledge management discipline, we can not help pointing out the lack of solid empirical validation. In this research, therefore, an effort for validating and refining the KM stage model was made by the triangulation approach. A survey and a multiple case study were conducted with investigations on related literature. We could validate the stage model and also verify the existence of the temporal sequence in knowledge management implementation through this research. Additionally, we proposed a new management object which has come to front of knowledge management lately and supplementary actions. In other words, we comprised an up-to-date stage model.