Investigating the impact of knowledge strategies on product quality management in knowledge-based companies

Dissertation for Master's Degree (M.A)

Field:

Industrial Management Production Orientation

Abstract:

In the age of knowledge, not using the benefits of knowledge can have negative effects on the performance and innovation of today's organizations. The main goal of this research is to investigate the impact of knowledge management strategies on product quality in knowledge-based companies. The research method in the current research is of descriptive-survey type and applied objective type. The statistical population of the current research is managers and employees of companies located in Science and Technology Park of Tehran Universities. To collect data, the researcher used a standard questionnaire whose validity was approved by the supervisor and experts and also its reliability was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha. The researcher used SPSS software to analyze the collected data. The results show that knowledge management strategies have an impact on product quality. In the end, it is suggested that managers of knowledge-based companies use these strategies to improve their performance, depending on the ability level of their employees.

Key words: human-centered strategies, system-centered strategies, dynamic strategies, product quality. Meanwhile, organizations with higher innovativeness will be more successful in responding to environmental changes as well as developing new capabilities that help them achieve higher performance. On the other hand, the knowledge-oriented perspective visualizes organizations as reservoirs of knowledge and competence. (Sabramin, 2005) Meanwhile, the theory of innovation (based on the organizational and knowledge management perspective) facilitates the integration of the development and application of knowledge (Montz, 2004).

Today, competition to improve the quality of products is known as a key strategic issue for organizations operating in the manufacturing sector. Organizations that achieve a higher level of product quality will have higher levels of customer satisfaction as precursors to achieving sustainable competitive advantage (Godaf and Hayer, 2008).

Currently, many companies and organizations in the world have invested in knowledge management. Despite the success of some, many organizations have also failed. It seems that a series of conditions, situations and challenges lead to the success or failure of the knowledge management activity in the organization, so before the organization's scarce resources are invested in such a high-risk area, the management should look for a tool to reduce the uncertainty of the knowledge management project. Also, the lack of correct mechanisms to evaluate the current state of the organization for the implementation of knowledge management or the development of knowledge management activities has turned this type of investment into an additional cost in the minds of managers. In this way, in order to target the use of knowledge as a competitive and strategic advantage, as well as to organize the stages of development of knowledge management in the organization, it is necessary and vital to know the current situation of the organization in the field of knowledge management and to determine the factors influencing the decision of an organization to apply and improve knowledge management. In other words, a deep analysis of the maturity level of the organization in the field of knowledge management is essential. Maturity of the organization in knowledge management is the level of capabilities and capabilities of an organization in different dimensions affecting knowledge management. Each organization, according to the activities it has performed in the field of knowledge management, is placed in a level of maturity, which level shows the current status of the organization in the field of knowledge management.  

1-2- Statement of the problem:

In the age of communication and information technology, knowledge is considered as the basic factor and vital source of organizations in the field of competition, to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage (Nazafti et al.; 2013). Along with the shift from the industry-based economy to the knowledge-based economy, organizations have also decided to increase their competitiveness by relying on knowledge and information and using it in the business process (Shan et al., 2013). In fact, this turn led to the emergence of companies and organizations that we call knowledge-based companies today. Knowledge-based companies are private companies or cooperatives that aim to synergize science and wealth, develop a knowledge-based economy, and achieve scientific goals.Knowledge-based companies are private companies or cooperatives that are formed for the purpose of synergizing science and wealth, developing a knowledge-based economy, realizing scientific and economic goals, including the expansion and application of inventions and innovations, and the commercialization of research and development results in the field of technology and with a lot of added value. In order to answer this important question, why are some organizations successful in the competition scene, we need to understand the vital role of knowledge in them (Kelich Lee et al., 2013). In fact, we should be able to have a correct understanding of the function of knowledge management [1] and the strategies that exist in this sector in order to be able to use this sustainable competitive advantage. To improve knowledge management, researchers studied business experiences and presented three types of knowledge management strategies under the title of "system-oriented[2]" (following documents and storage in databases) and "human-oriented[3]" (following the development of a network of people to communicate ideas) and dynamic strategies[4] which are a combination of the above two strategies (Nazafti et al.; 2013). In fact, a problem that shows itself here is that companies understand which strategy to use in different market conditions, or in other words, which strategy to focus on. On the other hand, today people live in an environment that is increasingly moving towards an economy based on services and goods. Other products and services, no matter how they are produced and provided, do not have their own consumers and customers (Sohrabi and Khanleri; 2016); In fact, product quality[5] is considered as the heart of value creation in the economy, and it prompts managers to be sensitive to the quality of the product offered and to pay serious attention to the evaluation of product and product quality in the management and evaluation of the organization's performance. Considering the high volume of employment, profitability and very close relationship with the customer, the importance of product quality is clear (Qalicheli et al.; 2013). In the framework of these concepts, quality refers to the degree to which a product meets customer expectations and specifications. Today, attention to quality is no longer solely the responsibility of a small group of people who monitor performance and track down and separate defective products, but all the tasks that are performed in the organization, such as writing letters, responding to clients, purchasing materials, repairs, and even the duties of office service employees and security guards are considered effective elements in quality. Management and evaluation of the quality of the provided services guarantee the growth and life of the service organization and victory in the competition. In fact, according to the above statements and that quality is the focus of customers' attention and it is these customers who determine the type of product and its quality, the lack of using appropriate knowledge management strategies to provide quality products; It will lead to the backwardness of knowledge-based companies and organizations in providing suitable and quality products, which will lead to many losses for these companies, which will sometimes be irreparable. In a new era where there is a completely different point of view and it provides a new way for organizations to move (Saedi and Yazdani, 2018). The development and application of knowledge management is increasing with passion and continuity in organizations. Because of the advances that have occurred in knowledge management. The competition to find a competitive edge is increasing at a faster rate (Barney, 1996). In fact, having information and knowledge management; It has become a stable position to continue living in dynamic and innovative organizations and even the ability to compete in markets and trade; subject to acquisition; Development and updating of individual and organizational knowledge. To the extent that knowledge; It is considered an essential part of organizational capital (Allegra et al., 2013). On the other hand, since the failure rate of knowledge management projects is significant, knowing the basic factors effective in the implementation of knowledge management can help businesses in needs assessment[6], planning[7], implementation and implementation[8] of knowledge management to reduce the probability of failure of knowledge management projects. The main importance and application of the basic success factors of knowledge management is that by identifying and monitoring these factors, the organization can be confident in the successful implementation of knowledge management. Therefore, every activity that the organization carries out in the implementation of knowledge management must have been reviewed and planned in advance for optimal and appropriate performance in the success factors. In fact, if knowledge management is implemented in the organization, it can be expected that the output of the organization, which is the same as the quality of the products and services provided; Get better