Designing an expert fuzzy system to select the appropriate knowledge management strategy in accordance with APO model and Bloodgood KM strategies: A case study

Abstract

Purpose

Selection of knowledge management strategies (KMS) is one of the most important and effective factors in acquiring the competitive advantage and elevating the knowledge level of the organizations. Those organizations that have taken steps toward knowledge management necessarily need to pay utmost attention to the matter of KMS before taking any further steps in their activities. One of the effective ways in adopting the proper KMS is evaluating the knowledge management maturity level in the organization. The purpose of this paper is to design an expert fuzzy system to adopt the KMS based on Bloodgood model in accordance with the maturity level of the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

In this method, with the help of expert fuzzy system, a model has been designed, by using MATLAB software, to adopt the KMS. The KM maturity level, tacit knowledge and explicit knowledge are chosen as inputs, and each one of Bloodgood’s KMS (production, transfer and protecting the knowledge) are chosen as outputs. To perform the system, the maturity level of knowledge management of an industrial organization that has been evaluated by the standard Asian Productivity Organization questionnaire is used as the input, which has been given to expert fuzzy system. Then, considering the output of the system, KMS for the organization have been recommended.

Findings

Knowledge management maturity level of the organization is on Level 4; considering the expert fuzzy system that has been designed, “knowledge production” strategy is recommended for the organization under study.

Originality/value

An expert fuzzy system has been designed regarding the maturity of knowledge management and Bloodgood model that can be used as a guide for organizations and academic people as an appropriate practical model for selecting knowledge management strategies.

Citation

Akhavan, P. and Philsoophian, M. (2018), "Designing an expert fuzzy system to select the appropriate knowledge management strategy in accordance with APO model and Bloodgood KM strategies: A case study", VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems, Vol. 48 No. 2, pp. 277-293. https://doi.org/10.1108/VJIKMS-08-2017-0051