Managing Knowledge in MNCs: The case of the knowledge management initiative in the Volvo Group

Abstract

It is imperative to never forget that knowledge is power, as it is the one and only true sustainable source of competitive advantage. Financial crisis or not, smart organizations are those which continuously utilize knowledge residing in the individual workers. In Multinational Corporations workers are dispersed across the globe, which offers opportunities arising from the variety of knowledge. However, introducing Knowledge Management (KM) initiatives does not automatically result in success, unless continuous participation of all individual workers in KM processes is ensured. The workers’ participation in these processes must be embedded in their daily routines, and Knowledge Management Systems (KMS) need to be designed to support these routines. The aim of this study is to investigate the factors behind workers’ involvement in KM processes and their usage of KMS. Hence, the new KM initiative in Volvo Group has been chosen as a case where workers in two of its factories have been interviewed. It has been revealed that the factors influencing workers’ involvement in KM processes and their KMS usage are predominantly related to management, organizational culture and usability of KMS and content.