E-mail: editor@ijimt.org
Abstract—Understanding the role of middle managers in the context of knowledge management and innovation is crucial for contemporary organizations. In today's business environment, knowledge management has become as a lifeline of organizations. However, the complexity of knowledge management implementation has increased gradually due to unclear relationship between the role of middle managers and successful KM implementation. Furthermore, there is also a lack of an integrated framework for KM implementation. With this in mind, we attempted to provide a theoretical framework for understanding the relationships among middle managers role, knowledge management implementation and innovation. The research framework of the present study is developed based on holistic theory of knowledge, and resource-based view and knowledge-based view theories. In addition, this study seeks to ascertain the influence of knowledge management implementation on innovation. The study found that middle managers role is indeed very imperative in determining the successful implementation of knowledge management, which is directly correlated to innovation enhancement.
Index Terms—Middle managers role; knowledge management implementation; critical success factors of knowledge management; knowledge management strategies; knowledge management processes and innovation.
Laith Ali Yousif AL-Hakim , PhD Candidate, College of Business,Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010 UUM Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia.s91869@student.uum.edu.my
Assoc. Prof Dr. Shahizan Hassan, College of Business, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010 UUM Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia. shahizan@uum.edu.my
Cite: Laith Ali Yousif AL-Hakim and Shahizan Hassan, " The Role of Middle Managers in Knowledge Management Implementation for Innovation Enhancement," International Journal of Innovation, Management and Technology vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 86-94, 2011.