{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,17]],"date-time":"2026-02-17T12:21:52Z","timestamp":1771330912367,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":35,"publisher":"Emerald","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2007,10,30]],"date-time":"2007-10-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1193702400000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/site-policies"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2007,10,30]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Purpose<\/jats:title><jats:p><jats:italic>The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of organizational environment on the selection of knowledge management strategies. The paper focuses particularly on the relationship between business and knowledge management strategy and the success of the knowledge management initiatives.<\/jats:italic><\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Design\/methodology\/approach<\/jats:title><jats:p><jats:italic>This paper is a case study researching 11 German and Swiss companies. The knowledge management initiatives were categorized by six criteria (objectives, processes, problems, content, strategy, knowledge type) and their fit with the respective business strategy of the organizational unit was evaluated.<\/jats:italic><\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Findings<\/jats:title><jats:p><jats:italic>The findings in this paper suggest a relationship between the success of knowledge management and the alignment of knowledge management and business strategy. The paper also shows that an organization whose business strategy requires process efficiency should rely primarily on a codification strategy. An organization whose business strategy requires product\/process innovation should rely primarily on a personalization strategy. The most successful knowledge management projects were driven by a strong business need and with the goal to add value to the organizational unit operations.<\/jats:italic><\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Research limitations\/implications<\/jats:title><jats:p><jats:italic>The paper shows there are limitations due to the qualitative nature of the research: logical rather than statistical conclusions, small sample size, and subjectivity of interpretations.<\/jats:italic><\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Practical implications<\/jats:title><jats:p><jats:italic>The paper sees that a manager should be aware of the objectives and business processes of the organizational unit and chooses the knowledge management strategy and objective in accordance to the business strategy and objective.<\/jats:italic><\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Originality\/value<\/jats:title><jats:p><jats:italic>The paper enhances understanding about the influence of organizational environment factors on the success of knowledge management initiatives.<\/jats:italic><\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1108\/13673270710832127","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2007,10,20]],"date-time":"2007-10-20T05:28:18Z","timestamp":1192858098000},"page":"3-15","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":189,"title":["A strategy for knowledge management"],"prefix":"10.1108","volume":"11","author":[{"given":"Martina E.","family":"Greiner","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Tilo","family":"B\u00f6hmann","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Helmut","family":"Krcmar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]}],"member":"140","reference":[{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b1","unstructured":"Afuah, A. (1998), Innovation Management, Oxford University Press, New York, NY."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b2","unstructured":"Alavi, M. and Leidner, D.E. (2001), \u201cReview: knowledge management and knowledge management systems: conceptual foundations and research issues\u201d, MIS Quarterly, Vol. 25 No. 1, pp. 107\u201036."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b3","unstructured":"Ardichvili, A., Maurer, M., Li, W., Wentling, T. and Stuedemann, R. (2006), \u201cCultural influences on knowledge sharing through online communities of practice\u201d, Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 10 No. 1, pp. 94\u2010107."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b4","unstructured":"Augustin, S. (1990), Information als Wettbewerbsfaktor: Informationslogistik \u2013 Herausforderung an das Management, Verlag T\u00dcV Rheinland, K\u00f6ln."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b5","unstructured":"Barney, J. (1991), \u201cFirm resources and sustained competitive advantage\u201d, Journal of Management, Vol. 17 No. 1, pp. 99\u2010121."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b6","unstructured":"Cohen, W.M. and Levinthal, D.A. (1990), \u201cAbsorptive capacity: a new perspective on learning and innovation\u201d, Administrative Science Quarterly, Vol. 35 No. 1, pp. 128\u201052."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b7","unstructured":"Daft, R.L. and Lengel, R.H. (1986), \u201cOrganizational information requirements, media richness and structural design\u201d, Management Science, Vol. 32 No. 5, pp. 554\u201071."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b9","unstructured":"Davenport, T.H. and Prusak, L. (1998), Working Knowledge: How Organizations Manage What They Know, Harvard Business School Press, Boston, MA."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b10","unstructured":"Davenport, T.H.M. and Donald, A. (1999), \u201cIs KM just good information management?\u201d, Extra Financial Times, March 8."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b8","unstructured":"Davenport, T.H., De Long, D.W. and Beers, M.C. (1998), \u201cSuccessful knowledge management projects\u201d, Sloan Management Review, Vol. 39 No. 2, pp. 43\u201057."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b11","unstructured":"DeLone, W.H. and McLean, E.R. (1992), \u201cInformation systems success: the quest for the dependent variable\u201d, Information Systems Research, Vol. 3 No. 1, pp. 60\u201095."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b12","unstructured":"Ford, D.P. and Chan, Y.E. (2003), \u201cKnowledge sharing in a multi\u2010cultural setting: a case study\u201d, Knowledge Management Research and Practice, Vol. 1, pp. 11\u201027."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Galbraith, J.R. (1974), \u201cOrganization design: an information processing view\u201d, Interfaces, Vol. 4 No. 8, pp. 87\u20109.","DOI":"10.1287\/inte.4.3.28"},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b14","unstructured":"Gammelgaard, J. and Ritter, T. (2005), \u201cThe knowledge retrieval matrix: codification and personification as separate strategies\u201d, Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 9 No. 4, pp. 133\u201043."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b15","unstructured":"Hansen, M.T., Nohria, N. and Tierney, T. (1999), \u201cWhat's your strategy for managing knowledge?\u201d, Harvard Business Review, Vol. 77 No. 2, pp. 106\u201016."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b16","unstructured":"Hofstede, G. and Hofstede, G.J. (2005), Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind, McGraw\u2010Hill, New York, NY."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b17","unstructured":"Kogut, B. and Zander, U. (1992), \u201cKnowledge of the firm, combinative capabilities, and the replication of technology\u201d, Organization Science, Vol. 3 No. 3, pp. 383\u201097."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b18","unstructured":"Leonard, D. and Sensiper, S. (1998), \u201cThe role of tacit knowledge in group innovation\u201d, California Management Review, Vol. 40 No. 3, pp. 112\u201032."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b19","unstructured":"Macharzina, K. (1999), Unternehmensf\u00fchrung: das internationale Managementwissen, Gabler, Wiesbaden, 3. Aufl."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b20","unstructured":"Malhotra, Y. (2004), \u201cWhy knowledge management systems fail? enablers and constraints of knowledge management in human enterprises\u201d, in Koenig, M.E.D. and Srikantaiah, T.K. (Eds), Knowledge Management Lessons Learned: What Works and What Doesn't, Information Today, Medford, NJ, pp. 87\u2010112."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b21","unstructured":"Michailova, S. and Husted, K. (2003), \u201cKnowledge\u2010sharing hostility in Russian firms\u201d, California Management Review, Vol. 45 No. 3, pp. 59\u201077."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nonaka, I. and Takeuchi, H. (1995), The Knowledge\u2010creating Company \u2013 How Japanese Companies Create the Dynamics of Innovation, Oxford University Press, Oxford.","DOI":"10.1016\/0024-6301(96)81509-3"},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"O'Dell, C. and Grayson, C.J.J. (1998), If Only We Knew What We Know: The Transfer of Internal Knowledge and Best Practice, The Free Press, New York, NY.","DOI":"10.2307\/41165948"},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Picot, A. (1998), Die grenzenlose Unternehmung: Information, Organisation und Management, Gabler, Wiesbaden, 3. Aufl.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-322-93130-6"},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b26","unstructured":"Polanyi, M. (1966), The Tacit Dimension, Routledge & Kegan Paul, London."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b27","unstructured":"Porter, M.E. (1980), Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors, Free Press, New York, NY."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b28","unstructured":"Rehaeuser, J. and Krcmar, H. (1996), Wissensmanagement im Unternehmen, Department of Information Systems, University of Hohenheim, Hohenheim, Working Paper No. 98."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b29","unstructured":"Seddon, P.B. (1997), \u201cA respecification and extension of the DeLone and McLean model of IS success\u201d, Information Systems Research, Vol. 8 No. 3, pp. 240\u201053."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b30","unstructured":"Sveiby, K.E. (1998), Wissenskapital \u2013 das unentdeckte Verm\u00f6gen: immaterielle Unternehmenswerte aufsp\u00fcren, messen und steigern, Verlag Moderne Industrie, Landsberg\/Lech."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b31","unstructured":"Venkatraman, N. (1989), \u201cThe concept of fit in strategy research: toward verbal and statistical correspondence\u201d, Academy of Management Review, Vol. 14 No. 3, pp. 423\u201044."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b32","unstructured":"von Krogh, G. (1998), \u201cCare in knowledge creation\u201d, California Management Review, Vol. 40 No. 3, pp. 133\u201053."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b33","unstructured":"Willke, H. (1998), Systemisches Wissensmanagement, Lucius and Lucius Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Stuttgart."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b34","unstructured":"Yin, R.K. (1994), Case Study Research: Design and Methods, 2nd ed., Sage Publications, Newbury Park, CA."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_b35","unstructured":"Zack, M.H. (1999), \u201cDeveloping a knowledge strategy\u201d, California Management Review, Vol. 41 No. 3, pp. 125\u201045."},{"key":"key2021010420260781400_frg1","unstructured":"Nonaka, I. and Konno, N. (1998), \u201cThe concept of \u2018Ba\u2019: building a foundation for knowledge creation\u201d, California Management Review, Vol. 40 No. 3, pp. 40\u201054."}],"container-title":["Journal of Knowledge Management"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emeraldinsight.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1108\/13673270710832127","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/13673270710832127\/full\/xml","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/13673270710832127\/full\/html","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,25]],"date-time":"2025-07-25T00:11:20Z","timestamp":1753402280000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emerald.com\/jkm\/article\/11\/6\/3-15\/257631"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2007,10,30]]},"references-count":35,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2007,10,30]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1108\/13673270710832127"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/13673270710832127","relation":{},"ISSN":["1367-3270"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1367-3270","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2007,10,30]]}}}