Investigating the Relationship between Environmental Uncertainty, Knowledge Management Capacity and Organizational Structure
Subject Areas : Business Management
Adel Fatemi
1
,
Sadegh Feizollahi
2
,
Alireza Shirmohammadi
3
1 - Faculty Member (Assistant Professor) Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Sanandaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj, Iran
2 - Assistant Professor, Department of Management, Mehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ilam, Iran
3 - Member of faculty of Payame Noor University, Ilam, Ilam, Iran
Keywords: Structural Equations, Organizational Structure, Environmental uncertainty, Knowledge management capacity,
Abstract :
The researchers have been investigating the subject of how knowledge management capacity would help organizational structures to overcome environmental uncertainty. Therefore, this research examines a comprehensive pattern to analyze the relationship between environmental uncertainty, knowledge management capacity and organizational structure. The necessary data have been collected from 125 companies. The results of analyzing structural equations pattern show that environmental uncertainty tends to force companies to increase their knowledge management in order to show themselves in structural changes.
Argote L, McEvily B, Reagans R.(2003), Managing knowledge in organizations: an integrative framework and review of emerging themes. Manage Sci;49(4):571–82.
Báron DP, Besanko D.(2005), Information, control, and organizational structure. Econ Manage Strateg; 1:237–75.
Birkinshaw J, Nobel R, Ridderstråle J. Knowledge as a contingency variable: do the characteristics of knowledge predict organization structure. Organ Sci 2002;13(3):274–89.
Bollen, k,a,(1989), structural equation with latent variable. New york: willy- interscience publication,342-54.
Bolloju N, Khalifa M, Turban E (2002), Integrating knowledge management into enterprise environments for the next generation decision support. Decis Support Syst; 33:163–76.
Buckley PJ, Carter MJ.(2002), Process and structure in knowledge management practices of British and US multinational enterprises. J Int Manage;8:29–48.
Chechen L, Shu-Hui CH, Pui-Liao To. How knowledge management mediates the relationship between environment and organizational structure. J Bus Res 2010,180-93.
Chuang SH.(2004), A resource-based perspective on knowledge management capability and competitive advantage: an empirical investigation. Expert Syst Appl 2004;27(3):459–65.
Daft RL, Lengel RH.(1986), Organizational information requirements, media richness and structural design. Manage Sci;32:554–71.
Daft RL, Weick KE.(2006), Toward a model of organizations as interpretation systems. Acad Manage Rev;9(2):284–95.
Ditillo A. Dealing with uncertainty in knowledge-intensive .rms: the role of management control systems as knowledge integration mechanisms. Acc Organ Soc 2004;29:401–21.
El Louadi M. The relationship among organization structure, information technology, and information processing in small Canadian .rms. Can J Admin Sci 1998;15(2):180–99.
Ghani KA, Jayabalan V, Sugumar M. Impact of advanced manufacturing technology on organizational structure. J Tech Manage Res 2002;13:157–75.
Gordon LA, Narayanan VK. Management accounting systems, perceived environmental uncertainty and organizational structure: an empirical investigation. Acc Organ Soc2007:33–47.
Hooman, H. A. (2005). Structural Equation Modeling. Tehran: Samt Publications, (In Persian).
Kearns GS, Lederer AL.(2004), The impact of industry contextual factors on IT focus and the use of IT for competitive advantage. Inform Manag;41:899–919.
Kelloway, e. k.(1995), Common practice in structural equation modeling. In v. l , cooper , & i.,217-28.
Kogut B, Zander U.(1992), Knowledge of the .rm, combinative capabilities,and the replication of technology.Organ Sci;3(3):83–97.
Lee CC, Grover V.(2000), Exploring mediation between environmental and structural attributes: the penetration of communication technologies in manufacturing organizations. J Manage Inform Syst;16(3):187–217.
Malhotra Y.(2000), Knowledge management and new organization forms: a framework for business model innovation. Inform Resour Manage J:5-14.
Miller D. (1991), Sale in the saddle: CEO tenure and the match between organization and environment. Manage Sci;37(1):34–52.
Mintzberg, H.,(1985), &Waters, J.A.Of strategies, deliberate and emergent.Strategic Management Journal, 16(3), 257-272.
Prokesch SE.(1997), Unleashing the power of learning: an interview with British petroleum's John Browne. Harvard Bus Rev;75(5):146–68.
Sharp D.(2003), Knowledge management today: challenges and opportunities. Inform Syst Manage:32–7.
Van den Bosch FAJ, (1999), Volberda HW, de Boer M. Coevolution of .rm absorptive capacity and knowledge environment: organizational forms and combinative capabilities. Organ Sci; 10(5):551–68.
Wang Eric TG. (2001), Linking organizational context with structure: a preliminary investigation of the information processing view. Omega; 29:429–43.
Zack MH. (1999), Developing a knowledge strategy. Calif Manage Rev;41(3):125–45
_||_
Argote L, McEvily B, Reagans R.(2003), Managing knowledge in organizations: an integrative framework and review of emerging themes. Manage Sci;49(4):571–82.
Báron DP, Besanko D.(2005), Information, control, and organizational structure. Econ Manage Strateg; 1:237–75.
Birkinshaw J, Nobel R, Ridderstråle J. Knowledge as a contingency variable: do the characteristics of knowledge predict organization structure. Organ Sci 2002;13(3):274–89.
Bollen, k,a,(1989), structural equation with latent variable. New york: willy- interscience publication,342-54.
Bolloju N, Khalifa M, Turban E (2002), Integrating knowledge management into enterprise environments for the next generation decision support. Decis Support Syst; 33:163–76.
Buckley PJ, Carter MJ.(2002), Process and structure in knowledge management practices of British and US multinational enterprises. J Int Manage;8:29–48.
Chechen L, Shu-Hui CH, Pui-Liao To. How knowledge management mediates the relationship between environment and organizational structure. J Bus Res 2010,180-93.
Chuang SH.(2004), A resource-based perspective on knowledge management capability and competitive advantage: an empirical investigation. Expert Syst Appl 2004;27(3):459–65.
Daft RL, Lengel RH.(1986), Organizational information requirements, media richness and structural design. Manage Sci;32:554–71.
Daft RL, Weick KE.(2006), Toward a model of organizations as interpretation systems. Acad Manage Rev;9(2):284–95.
Ditillo A. Dealing with uncertainty in knowledge-intensive .rms: the role of management control systems as knowledge integration mechanisms. Acc Organ Soc 2004;29:401–21.
El Louadi M. The relationship among organization structure, information technology, and information processing in small Canadian .rms. Can J Admin Sci 1998;15(2):180–99.
Ghani KA, Jayabalan V, Sugumar M. Impact of advanced manufacturing technology on organizational structure. J Tech Manage Res 2002;13:157–75.
Gordon LA, Narayanan VK. Management accounting systems, perceived environmental uncertainty and organizational structure: an empirical investigation. Acc Organ Soc2007:33–47.
Hooman, H. A. (2005). Structural Equation Modeling. Tehran: Samt Publications, (In Persian).
Kearns GS, Lederer AL.(2004), The impact of industry contextual factors on IT focus and the use of IT for competitive advantage. Inform Manag;41:899–919.
Kelloway, e. k.(1995), Common practice in structural equation modeling. In v. l , cooper , & i.,217-28.
Kogut B, Zander U.(1992), Knowledge of the .rm, combinative capabilities,and the replication of technology.Organ Sci;3(3):83–97.
Lee CC, Grover V.(2000), Exploring mediation between environmental and structural attributes: the penetration of communication technologies in manufacturing organizations. J Manage Inform Syst;16(3):187–217.
Malhotra Y.(2000), Knowledge management and new organization forms: a framework for business model innovation. Inform Resour Manage J:5-14.
Miller D. (1991), Sale in the saddle: CEO tenure and the match between organization and environment. Manage Sci;37(1):34–52.
Mintzberg, H.,(1985), &Waters, J.A.Of strategies, deliberate and emergent.Strategic Management Journal, 16(3), 257-272.
Prokesch SE.(1997), Unleashing the power of learning: an interview with British petroleum's John Browne. Harvard Bus Rev;75(5):146–68.
Sharp D.(2003), Knowledge management today: challenges and opportunities. Inform Syst Manage:32–7.
Van den Bosch FAJ, (1999), Volberda HW, de Boer M. Coevolution of .rm absorptive capacity and knowledge environment: organizational forms and combinative capabilities. Organ Sci; 10(5):551–68.
Wang Eric TG. (2001), Linking organizational context with structure: a preliminary investigation of the information processing view. Omega; 29:429–43.
Zack MH. (1999), Developing a knowledge strategy. Calif Manage Rev;41(3):125–45
