Relationship of Knowledge Management Activities and Effectiveness among High-tech Companies in Taiwan

In the knowledge economy era, effective use of knowledge management (KM) systems can confer competitive advantage. The purpose of this study is to understand the relationships between individuals and organizations undertaking KM activities and the effectiveness of those activities. Using both qualitative and quantitative approaches, this study investigates the relationship between KM activities and knowledge-management effectiveness (KME) in high-tech companies in Taiwan. An empirical survey and in-depth interviews with focus groups are conducted, and a new inventory for measuring KM activities and KME is thus developed. It is found that business KM activities and KME vary among knowledge workers in accordance with demographic variables and organizational nature. It is also found that KM activities affect KME to a certain extent, and that organizational KME can feedback on (and thus affect) KM activities.