KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY BASED ON ORGANIZATIONAL GROWTH STAGES IN FASHION INDUSTRY : A HISTORICAL CASE STUDY APPROACH

• Main Author: Andriani , Made
• Format: Dissertations
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/28690
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

The contribution of the creative economy to national GDP is quite high, so this sector is still the mainstay of the government in increasing the national economic growth. However, data show that the growth of creative economy sector dominated by Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) is still below the average growth of MSMEs nationally. One of the creative economic sub-sectors that has the largest export contribution is the fashion industry, but the growth of the fashion industry has continued to decline in the last three years. One of the main causes of low growth in the fashion industry is the low competency of human resources and high turnover rates. The high level of turnover has an impact on the process of standardization and accumulation of knowledge. In addition, knowledge is one of the basic components that form competencies that are easy to train. Therefore, it is important for MSMEs to understand the knowledge management strategy along with the company growth. <br /> <br /> <br /> This study aims to formulate a knowledge management strategy based on the characteristics of each organizational growth stage. To formulate the knowledge management strategy, a model was developed by identifying the characteristics of business processes, including the type of task and the level of interaction, at each growth stage. Based on the business process characteristics, the knowledge management strategy, that consists of two dimensions namely knowledge managemenet mechanism and type of knowledge priority, was developed. The study was conducted by exploring the three fashion companies that have passed several stages of growth, with historical case study methods. The data were collected by conducting in-depth interviews, document study, and observation, while data processing was done by using thematic analysis and cross-case analysis. <br /> <br /> <br /> Based on historical case studies on three fashion companies, it can be concluded that organizations in the fashion industry grow through four stages of growth, namely entrepreneurial, growth, expansion, and collaboration. Each growth stage has a specific characteristic, so it is important for the organization to know their growth stage, to adapt to the changes that are being faced. In addition, it can be concluded that the business process at different growth stage has a different maturity level so that the organization needs to improve the business process maturity level undertaken in order to grow to the next stage of growth. <br /> <br /> <br /> Furthermore, differences in business process characteristics in each growth stage cause a different knowledge management strategy needed by the organization.. At the Entrepreneurial Stage, knowledge management is focused on the human at the individual level, while entering the Growth Stage, some knowledge needs to be formalized into explicit knowledge at the individual level. Then entering the Expansion Stage, almost all processes need to be formalized by using system mechanisms at the organizational level.