Knowledge Management Practices, and Organizational Performance: A Case of the Royal Thai Air Force

Abstract

The purpose of the research is to develop a model of knowledge management (KM) practices and organizational performance (OP), to validate the relationship of KM practices and OP in the model, and 3) to suggest for the improvement of KM practices and OP.

This research investigates the relationship of KM practices, innovation and OP. Both quantitative research and qualitative research are conducted to test the relationship of the variables in the proposed model and conceptual framework. In quantitative research, a questionnaire survey is conducted to collect the data from all 185 commanders and directors (Senior Group Captain) of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) organizations. And the number of returned questionnaires is 100%. In qualitative research, the populations are six RTAF administrators who are responsible for knowledge management. The unit of analysis is organization.

The Path Analysis is employed to find out direct and indirect relationship of the independent variable, the dependent variable and the intervening variable.

The characteristics of sample are described by descriptive statistics. The results show that KM practices positively influence innovation, innovation positively influences OP and KM practices positively influence OP. KM practices influence OP indirectly through innovation. The empirical results provide considerable support to the proposed hypotheses. The results of quantitative analysis are supported by the results of qualitative analysis.

This study contributes to the literature by theoretically developing a conceptual model and then empirically examining the relationships among knowledge management practices, innovation and organizational performance. The findings support the researcher’s argument that KM practices positively influence OP, through innovation. The findings in this study are valuable for manager’s reference, especially for those whose circumstances are similar to the military organizations. The model provides useful information for managers to enhance organizational performance through knowledge management practices and innovation.