Measuring knowledge management project performance

Abstract

Knowledge management (KM) is recognized as contributing significantly to the organizational performance. Researchers have worked hard on KM performance measurement on the enterprise level. They investigate KM performance determinants and provide numerous KM performance models. Meanwhile, little research has been undertaken to assess knowledge management projects performance. In fact, the growing number of KM project confirms the need for a performance measurement model, able to assess, each time a KM project is introduced, the performance of such project in order to rationalize its use, evaluate its effectiveness and justify its consequent financial costs. This research aims to fill the gap by proposing a generic model that carries out the performance measurement of KM projects. KM activities, KM success factors and KM outcomes are the main constructs of this model. For the operationalization of the model constructs, a literature review was conducted for KM outcomes and KM factors. Whereas a particular emphasis was placed on the KM activity construct and a KM flow model were designed to this end. The measurement properties of the model research constructs are investigated using the confirmatory factor analysis. This study formulates the foundations for the understanding of KM projects performance constructs. It is believed to be used as a stepping stone for a further in depth theoretical and empirical studies.