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A study of factors that facilitate use of knowledge management systems and the impact of use on individual learning
DISSERTATION

, The Claremont Graduate University, United States

The Claremont Graduate University . Awarded

Abstract

This study assesses the value that a knowledge system (KS) can contribute to individual learning in an organizational setting.

The dissertation defines what is meant by organizational learning, and explains how it can be measured through assessment of an individual's perceived change in both inner status (cognition) and observable facts (behavior and performance). A research model was proposed as an extension of Jennex and Olfman's (2000) KS success model and a survey questionnaire was developed to collect data to assess the factors that facilitate use of KS and measure the impact of KS use on individual learning. Structural Equation Modeling was used to analyze the data. Qualitative analysis of open-ended survey questions provided additional insights.

The research findings suggest that KS has a strong impact on effective individual learning, and demonstrate that KS use benefits learning in a variety of ways. The research also suggests that an individual's perceived capabilities and usefulness of a KS, and management support are the main factors that lead to KS use. Information quality was found to have no direct effect on KS use; its impact on KS use is dependent on individuals. Also, the causal relationship from system quality to KS use was not significantly supported.

The research demonstrates that like for other information systems, users are the most important aspect of a KS. The organization should emphasize people over technology when managing a KS. After all, it is the people who exercise their individual choice to use the system, to share with others, or to hoard knowledge.

Finally, this study identified some unsolved issues and pointed to the need for and direction of future research. Some suggested avenues include: multiple methods of data collection and more multivariate analyses to clarify the relationship between factors affecting KS use; replicating this survey in a wider range of cultural contexts to test the cultural influence on KS use and learning effect; and measurement related research to refine, test, and improve both the measurement and structural model. Further empirical work is also encouraged to gain more insight into the influence of system quality on KS use.

Citation

Liu, S.C. A study of factors that facilitate use of knowledge management systems and the impact of use on individual learning. Ph.D. thesis, The Claremont Graduate University. Retrieved March 19, 2024 from .

This record was imported from ProQuest on October 23, 2013. [Original Record]

Citation reproduced with permission of ProQuest LLC.

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