A methodology for assessing the coherence of companies’ knowledge strategy

Purpose – The objective of the research is to propose a methodology to quantitatively assess the coherence of a company’s knowledge strategy to its business strategy and to its competitive and organizational context. Design/methodology/approach – We identified three main strategies in the literature of knowledge management: (1) the knowledge development (internal or external), (2) the knowledge sharing (codification or personalization strategy) and (3) the knowledge exploitation (internal or external). We propose a model and a three step methodology for assessing the coherence of companies’ knowledge strategy which links the strategies identified with some dimensions characterizing competitive environment, business strategy e organizational context with defines the characteristics of businesses. Finally we test the methodology in a company, the illycaffè of Trieste. Originality/value –This original methodology can be used to assess the alignment of existing knowledge strategy (as-is state) with the characteristics of the company; identify, on the basis of the current competitive environment, organizational context and business strategy, the ideal knowledge strategy as a balance of the three fundamental strategies (ideal as-is state); identify, on the basis of the future competitive environment, organizational context and business strategy, the ideal knowledge strategy as a balance of the three fundamental strategies (ideal to-be state). The final output of the assessment methodology is a new strategic tool, we called the knowledge strategy coherence diagnostic matrix which visually analyzes the as-is state, the ideal as-is state and the ideal to-be state of a company’s knowledge strategy. Practical implications – The application of the methodology for assessing the coherence of companies’ knowledge strategy highlights how a company operates, and, in relationship with that, how manages the knowledge. Furthermore the proposed assessment model has a general applicability and can be a valuable tool for an in-depth organizational analysis of knowledge management.