The knowledge advantage (K-Adv) concept

Research reported up here explores innovation diffusion and knowledge management literature providing a model of how organisations can enhance competitive advantage through a knowledge advantage (K-Adv). This conceptual model is explained in sufficient detail to indicate how an organisation may use it to benchmark its K-Adv maturity level. This model was based upon extensive review of the knowledge management literature and draws upon results from a parallel study on innovation diffusion. The model was tested using unstructured interviews with key personnel from a building construction contracting firm (annual turnover of AUD$1 billion) and three Australian government departments responsible for building and infrastructure projects. The innovation diffusion study also included data from a global engineering consultancy. Both studies were competed in mid 2004. The concept model was accepted as being highly valuable for benchmarking by our collaborating industry partners, but they showed reluctance to commit commercialisation funding to develop a strategy for establishing how a benchmarking group might be established to undertake KM consulting work using this model and tools developed. The prevailing view was that currently, the Australian construction industry is poorly prepared for the required cultural change necessary for organisations to realise a competitive advantage based upon its knowledge management approach.