Which Mode Is Better for Knowledge Creation?

Which Mode Is Better for Knowledge Creation?

Department of Information Management Kun Shan University

kaosc@mail.ksu.edu.tw

ChienHsing Wu

Department of Information Management National University of Kaohsiung

700, Kaohsiung University Rd., Nanzih District, 811. Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C. chwu@nuk.edu.tw

Ping-Chieh Su

Institute of Management and Business National University of Kaohsiung

700, Kaohsiung University Rd., Nanzih District, 811. Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C. abin51@mail2000.com.tw

Abstract

Uptight competition in the knowledge economy era has led to the increasing importance of knowledge creation. Although knowledge creation has been widely studied, the mode with respect to the definition of goal and the direction of thinking behavior has received less attention. Using 153 manufacturing companies having received at least 20 patents, the current research conducted an empirical investigation to disclose impact of knowledge creation mode and organizational culture on knowledge creation performance. Research results indicated that (1) both goal-free and goal-framed creation modes are more likely to support knowledge creation, (2) the goal-driven mode is not likely favorable for knowledge creation, (3) manufacturing companies who are looking frequently for new ideas for product design and manufacturing technologies are more likely to adopt the goal-free creation mode, (4) adhocracy culture is more likely a predicator of product and manufacturing creation, and (5) manufacturing companies with a single or multiple culture types are more likely to adopt the goal-framed creation mode. Discussion and implications are also presented.

Keywords: Knowledge management, Organizational culture, Knowledge creation