Shih Chieh Fang

An integrative model of organizational learning and social capital on effective knowledge transfer and perceived organizational performance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to set out to examine the relationships of organizational learning, social capital and the effectiveness of knowledge transfer and perceived organisational performance. Integrating organizational learning capability with social capital networks to shape a holistic knowledge sharing and management enterprise framework is a significant strategy to achieve organizational success.Design/methodology/approach – An integrative framework is used to determine the relationships of key variables of organizational learning such as learning intention, shared values, absorption capacity, integration capability, and social capital variables such as network structure, network stability and network relational quality on the effectiveness of knowledge transfer in organizations. In this research, senior management (Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer) from 650 firms were randomly sampled and surveyed from the register of the Industrial Technologica...

Knowledge as a facilitator for enhancing innovation performance through total quality management

Many organisations are facing competitive challenges due to the rapid pace of technological change. Management theorists and practitioners alike have called for more creativity and innovation in product lines, management practices and production processes. However, total quality management (TQM) has long been a major management practice. Knowledge management (KM) initiatives have gained popularity in organisations recently. In addition, innovation has also received considerable attention as critical to securing sustainable competitive advantage in the marketplace. This study examined how KM initiatives, TQM and innovation performance are related. A survey of 223 managers from 1139 Taiwanese high-tech companies provided the empirical data needed. The study used structural equation modelling to analyse simultaneously the relationships between KM, TQM and innovation performance. Findings were that KM is positively associated with both TQM and innovation performance and that TQM is a mediator between KM and innovation performance.

Early versus potential adopters: Exploring the antecedents of use intention in the context of retail service innovations

Purpose – The success of retail service innovations is contingent upon a thorough understanding of the antecedent factors that drive adoption intention. Using the example of a novel kiosk technology, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the antecedents of kiosk use intention and to find out how perceptions of antecedent factors vary among potential and early adopters.Design/methodology/approach – Based on the “Unified theory of acceptance and use of technology” and the technology readiness (TR) concept, the proposed framework identifies several factors underlying adoption intention. The framework is tested on potential and early adopters of a kiosk system recently launched by Taiwans largest convenience retailer.Findings – Results show that while performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions and social influence impact overall use intention, the perceptions of these antecedents vary significantly between potential versus early users. Further, individual TR does not intervene with ...

Cross-country comparison of intellectual capital performance of commercial banks in Asian economies

This study explores the intellectual capital performances of commercial banks in eight Asian economies by applying Pulics value-added intellectual coefficient method (VAIC™). The results show that after controlling for the influence of loan quality (LQ), fund utilisation (FU), and Asian financial crisis, both physical and human capitals (HCs) are the main factors creating value for banks. From 1996 to 2001, banks in Hong Kong on average had the best intellectual capital performance while those in Thailand improved the most. Further analysis shows that the value-creating efficiency of HC is the major driving force of performance.

Organisational knowledge creation strategies: A conceptual framework

The main purposes of this article are to identify the dimensions of organisational knowledge creation strategies (EICE model: exploration, institutional entrepreneurship, combination, exploitation) and to clarify the relationship between the organisational knowledge creation strategies and its knowledge asset. For these purposes, guided by knowledge-based view and knowledge creation theory, we propose an EICE model and explore its effect on the knowledge asset. We further suggest the managerial implications and theoretical implications. The main managerial implication is that the knowledge creation strategies model may help manager to make effective strategies for knowledge creation within the organisation. The main contributions to organisation theory are extending Nonakas knowledge creation theory to form a new strategic model for knowledge creation.

Inter-organizational knowledge transfer: the perspective of knowledge governance

Purpose – The main purposes of this study are to develop a knowledge governance mechanism-fit-barrier matrix mode to resolve transfer problems resulting from knowledge characteristics and to clarify the relationship among knowledge characteristics, barriers of knowledge transfer, and effective knowledge transfer in inter-organizational contexts. Design/methodology/approach – The vast literature on knowledge transfer in inter-organizational context has been reviewed. Moreover, to develop a theoretical framework, the authors developed a set of arguments based on literature pertaining to the knowledge-based view of knowledge characteristics and barriers and the response of network to inter-organizational knowledge transfer. Findings – Knowledge-based view of knowledge characteristics and barriers and knowledge governance may provide a new understanding for network organizations seeking effective knowledge transfer strategies in inter-organizational context. Research limitations/implications – The main contri...

The impact of relational bonds on brand loyalty: the mediating effect of brand relationship quality

Purpose – While the literature attends to how customer retention strategies develop relationship quality (e.g. trust), it does not account for the potential mediator (s) in this relationship. The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of brand relationship quality (BRQ) in the relationship between relational bonds and brand loyalty in retail service contexts. Design/methodology/approach – A total of 524 valid questionnaires from respondents aged between 15 and 24 are analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings – First, BRQ significantly mediates the relationship between relational bonds and brand loyalty. Second, structural bonds are the only driver of attitudinal attachment; social and structural bonds lead to a sense of community. Third, attitudinal attachment is the main influence on both behavioral and attitudinal loyalty. Research limitations/implications – First, a focus on a single market segment, i.e. 15-24 year olds. Second the dimensions used to measure relational bonds...

The moderating effect of environmental uncertainty on the relationship between network structures and the innovative performance of a new venture

Purpose – Network structures are critical in the acquisition of resources; however, their impact on innovative performance remains unclear, especially in an uncertain environment. This study aims to advance research on network research by investigating how the configuration of the industrial environment shapes the relationship between network structures of a new venture and its innovative performance.Design/methodology/approach – Empirical support was derived from entrepreneurial survey data. Data were collected through a survey of 1,510 new ventures in Taiwan for this research study.Findings – The authors find that innovative performance is impacted by different aspects of the network structure, and that environmental uncertainty contributes to this impact. Overall, the authors find that network structure, innovative performance and environmental uncertainty together contribute to a contingent view of the conditions under which network boundary conditions impact innovative performance.Practical implicati...

Ranking Taiwanese management journals: A case study

To improve the quality of journals in Taiwan, the National Science Council (NSC) of the Republic of China evaluates journals in the fields of humanities and social sciences periodically. This paper describes the evaluation of 46 management journals conducted by the authors, as authorized by the NSC. Both a subjective approach, with judgments solicited from 345 experts, and an objective approach, with data collected on four indicators: journal cross citation, dissertation citation, authors’ scholastic reputation, and author diversity, were used to make a comprehensive evaluation. Performance in the four indicators were aggregated using weights which were most favourable to all journals, in a compromise sense, to produce the composite indices. The subjective evaluation reflects the general image, or reputation, of journals while the objective evaluation discloses blind spots which have been overlooked by experts. The results show that using either approach alone would have produced results which are misleading, which suggests that both approaches should be used. All of the editors of the journals being evaluated agreed that the evaluation was appropriate and the results are reasonable.

Influences of relationship transparency from intellectual capital reporting on supply chain partnerships with suppliers: a field experiment

Purpose – This paper aims to explore the intellectual capital (IC) information needed to enable relationship transparency and the influences of relationship transparency on supply chain partnerships.Design/methodology/approach – A field experiment research design is adopted to examine whether IC information facilitates relationship transparency with partners in the supply chain of a focal firm and contributes to supply chain partnership enhancement.Findings – This study identifies an IC transparency framework consisting of two components – the transparency of important business characteristics and the transparency of relationship atmosphere – for guiding the provision of IC information and enabling relationship transparency. The provision of the focal firms IC information to partners in its supply chain significantly increases partners trust, satisfaction and commitment towards their relationships. Thus the results suggest that relationship transparency derived from IC transparency enhances supply chain...