Strategy Knowledge Management for Developing Capabilities in King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang

Strategy Knowledge Management for Developing Capabilities in King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang Thitiwuth sunnanon 1 Dr. Jirasek Trimethsunthorn 2 Associate Professor Dr. Reveewan Chinatrekul 3 1. PHD Candidate in Vocational Education Administration, Faculty Industrial Education., King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. 2. Faculty Industrial Education., King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. 3. Faculty Industrial Education., King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. ABSTARCT The objective of this study is to examine situation, to study the influenced factors, and to develop strategies of the knowledge management of King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. The research methodology is composed of 3 phases. Phase 1 is to examine the situation of knowledge management. The sample is the representatives of knowledge management commission from 6 faculties and 4 offices under King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. In terms of using a purposive sampling method, 10 specialists who are the representatives attend a focus group and then gather data for analysis. From the results, the knowledge management commission of King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang does not have clear policies on processes and implications to designate to the knowledge management commission of many faculties and offices. Thus they have no guideline to set the knowledge management strategies for the organization and department level. Moreover most of the knowledge management commission from the faculties and the offices under King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang still face with the lack of understanding about knowledge management. Thus they can not bring the process of knowledge management within the organization to an achievement. Phase 2 is to study the influenced factors of knowledge management. The sample is professors and academic officers which are 1,806 samples from 6 faculties and 4 offices. The sample size is determined according to the criteria of Krejcie and Morgan (1990) by stratified random sampling. the sample size is 317 samples and recived questionnaires were 255 samples that 80.95 %. As the results, the opinion of professors and academic officers about factors of knowledge management in overall is in a Moderate level which the mean equals to 2.90. Last but not least, phase 3 is to develop strategies of knowledge management. The outcome is strategies of knowledge management for applying in organization and department level. The organization strategies are policy setting, information technology system, training, and monitoring and reward. While the department strategies are participation, motivation, community establishing, action-plan setting, activity support, and evaluation. Keywords: Knowledge Management, KMITL 1

INTRODUCTION Admittedly the prosperity of many countries at this present evolves from the development of humankind knowledge. The alteration of worldwide social has many obvious characteristics caused by the persistent development of information and communication technologies as well as the transportation technologies leading the world to globalization. (Tassana Buntong. 2000 : 2) The prosperity and the evolution are caused by the knowledge accumulation and the fulfilling implementation. Thus the knowledge is the essence of development. In pursuit of the new learning, we have to investigate, research, and aggregate then come up with the knowledge for distribution. In case of someone who has a lot of knowledge accumulation, this can be defined as an expertise. However there are some weaknesses of the individual knowledge accumulation. If an expertise flings aside, the knowledge will vanish. Therefore it should have the written archives and knowledge for the next generation to study. Human has a unique characteristic which is the ability to learn and develop. The progress of academic learning and accumulation leads to the scientific innovations while the natural learning comes from the experiences. With the existence of these acquired truths, the knowledge directly affects the human s living such as convenience, problem solving, habitation, transportation as well as medicine and remedy for illness. These make human survive and predominate other creatures. While human has no canine, talon, or inbred weapon for fighting and protect as the animals, human still has knowledge and accumulation to make a logical thinking. Therefore the wisdom becomes an important factor in this recent living. (Yean Pusuwan, refer to Tipparat Atiwattanachai. 2007:27) The knowledge management is the continuous and regular process. The objective is to develop responsibility and human resource by using the knowledge and knowledge management as tools. (Nursing department. 1994:63) Thus the knowledge creation and management is a core of Knowledge-Based Society. Worldwide universities have to extensively research so as to create and transfer the knowledge to develop the society and enhance the potential of competitiveness. It can be seen from many universities in Thailand which have a vision to be the World-Class University. They follow their own philosophy to have strength on research by associating the research with missions and utilizing the advantage of research. (Pisit Chareonsudjai, 2006:61) From those above, King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang concerns with the significance and dictates to the authority of knowledge management commission on 30 June B.E. 2006 which consistent with the assurance of the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission s (OPDC) official operation. The 13-level indicator for the success of knowledge management supports the strategies which the commission has arranged the knowledge management scheme of organization from B.E. 2006 to present. As the results, the knowledge management is not successful as the desirable target. The participants who are professors and officers still face with the lack of understanding about their roles and responsibilities to involve with the knowledge management as well as what the concept of knowledge management is. In case of the existence of the knowledge management scheme, the knowledge management commission still does not implement the strategies which are the master plan of scheme. Refer to Thongchai Santiwong, 1999:41, the strategy is a plan with readiness, completeness, and coordination which supports the advantages of organization to face with any environment. This strategy is determined to assure that the objectives of organization will accomplish certainly. Consistent with Boonsong Hanpanich s (2003:88) definition, a strategy is a plan or a technique for implementation and operation to meet the appointed targets. In conclusion, to set the strategies we should design and choose them appropriately. Moreover the implementation and the operation of strategies have to be consistent with the structure and culture of organization. Refer to Teaunjai Raksapong (2008:23), to achieve the strategy for knowledge management, the organization has to set a clear vision, impose the strategy for 2

implementation, improve the concrete of learning, and have an evaluation in order to develop the performance of organization. It can be concluded that the strategy is essential for the organization which needs to meet the desirable targets. From the fact above, this leads the operation of knowledge management commission to be not successful. Therefore it is an interesting contribution to study about the status and factors that effect of knowledge management in case of the implementation of the knowledge management in King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study, Strategy Knowledge Management for Developing Capabilities in King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, are as follow; 1. To examine the situation of knowledge management in King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. 2. To study the influenced factors of knowledge management of King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. 3. To develop strategies of knowledge management for King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. RESEARCH FRAMEWORK The researcher has to study about the concept of knowledge management form many scholars in order to apply as the conceptual framework of knowledge management strategy for enhancing the potential of King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang which is shown in figure 1 as below. Components of the knowledge management situation 1. Knowledge Creation 2. Knowledge Collection 3. Knowledge Transfer 4. Knowledge Utilization Strategy Knowledge Management of King Mongkut s Institute Of Technology Ladkrabang Factors of knowledge management 1. Vision 2. Culture 3. Management 4. Information Technology 5. Monitoring RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3

The employed methodology of this study is Research and Development attempting to examine the strategies in order to enhance the potential of knowledge management of King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang.The processcan be concluded as shown in table 1. Table 1 The process of research methodology Phase 1 Research Methodology Outcome To examine the To analyze and arrange the focus The situation of knowledge situation of grouped by using a concept of 4 management in King knowledge components of the knowledge Mongkut s Institute of management in King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. management situation which are the knowledge creation, the knowledge collection, the knowledge transfer, and the knowledge utilization. Technology Ladkrabang. Phase 2 Research Methodology Outcome To explore the opinion about influenced factors of knowledge management of King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang of by using questionnaire. The concept Ladkrabang. of 5 factors of knowledge management is vision, organizational culture, management, information technology, and monitoring. To study the influenced factors of knowledge management of King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. The influenced factors of knowledge management of King Mongkut s Institute Phase 3 Research Methodology Outcome To develop strategies for knowledge management in order to enhance the potential of King of Mongkut s Institute of Ladkrabang. Technology Ladkrabang. Step 1 1.To draft strategies for knowledge management to enhance the potential of King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. 2.To inspect strategies for knowledge management to enhance the potential of King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang by advisors. Step 2 To summarize the report and publish the research. Technology The strategies for knowledge management to enhance the potential of King Mongkut s Institute Technology INSTRUMENTS The instruments of the strategies of knowledge management to develop the potential of King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang can be divided into 2 sections. Section 1 is the instruments for examining the situation of the knowledge management. The researcher has studied the concept, theory, research, and relevant documents then comes up with the crucial topics for focus group. These topics are consistent with the concept of the components of the knowledge management which are the knowledge creation, the knowledge collection, the knowledge transfer, and the knowledge utilization. Finally, the topics for focus 4

group are submitted to the advisor to check and revise. Section 2 is the instruments for studying the s influenced factors of the knowledge management which can be separated into 2 parts. Firstly, part 1 is the check-list questionnaire. This section is focusing on the general information of respondents which are gender, age, educational background, work experience. Secondly, part 2 is the rating-scale questionnaire with 5 level which focuses on opinion about the influenced factors of knowledge management of King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang composed of vision, organizational culture, management, information technology, and monitoring. The content accuracy of questionnaire is approved by 5 savants then analyzed value of Index of item objective congruence (IOC) between content and the questionnaire of this study. As a result, value of IOC is between 0.5-1.0. The questionnaire is revised and amended as the savants advice then try out to non-representative samples of the research from 1 agency which are 40 samples separated into 20 professor and 20 academic officers. Subsequently, it has to analyze value of discrimination in order to inspect the quality of questionnaire in each item by examining correlation between item and overall (Item Total Correlation). As a result, value of discrimination is between 0.22-0.79. Finally, the analysis of reliability according to the method of Cronbach s Alpha Coefficient (Cronbach. 1990 : 202-204) shows that the alpha coefficient of this questionnaire equals to 0.96. RESULTS Phase 1 is to examine the situation of knowledge management. The sample is the representatives of knowledge management commission from 6 faculties and 4 offices under King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. In terms of using a purposive sampling method, 10 specialists who are the representatives attend a focus group and then gather data for analysis. The results of the situation and the influenced factors of the knowledge management of King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang are collected from 8 representatives of knowledge management commission from the faculties and the offices under King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. It can be concluded that most of knowledge management commission from many faculties and offices still face with the lack of understanding about knowledge management including instruments, processes, and implications. This brings to an unsuccessful of implementation to develop the competitiveness and to be achieved as an excellent organization. Furthermore, the chief executives do not have a written declaration about the policy of knowledge management of organization. Thus the officers are found confused and do not have clear targets on processes and implications to submit to the knowledge management commission of many faculties and offices in order to use as a guideline. For the aspect of factors of the knowledge management, most of the representatives agree that King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang should follow these: having a vision about knowledge management, creating a good culture of organization for supporting the knowledge management, having a systematically process management, having an information technology totally for supporting all activities, and last but not least, efficient monitoring each procedure of knowledge management. Phase 2 is to study the influenced factors of knowledge management. The sample is professors and academic officers which are 1,806 samples from 6 faculties and 4 offices. The sample size is determined according to the criteria of Krejcie and Morgan (1990) by stratified random sampling. the sample size is 317 samples and recived questionnaires were 255 samples that 80.95 %. As the results, the opinion of professors and academic officers about factors of knowledge management in overall is in a Moderate level which the mean equals to 2.90. Last but not least.the results of the influenced factors of knowledge management of King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. The level of opinion about the influenced factors of knowledge management of King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. which is shown in Table 2 as below 5

Table 2 Mean, Standard Deviation, Level of opinion, and Ranking about influenced factors of knowledge management of King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang in overall and each aspect. No. The influenced factors of knowledge n = 255 Level of management Ranking X S.D. Opinion 1 Vision 2.88 0.813 Moderate 3 2 Organizational Culture 2.94 0.754 Moderate 2 3 Management 2.79 0.944 Moderate 5 4 Information Technology 3.07 0.738 Moderate 1 5 Monitoring 2.83 0.933 Moderate 4 Overall 2.90 0.754 Moderate As the table shown above, the opinion of personnel of King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang about the influenced factors of knowledge management in overall is in a Moderate level which mean equals to 2.90. The difference of opinion about the influenced factors of knowledge management among the personnel of King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang is insignificant considering by standard deviation which equals to 0.754. CONCLUSION From the results of the strategies for knowledge management to enhance the potential of King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang according to the 1 st and 2 nd objectives of this study, the strategies for knowledge management of King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang can be summarized as shown in figure 2 and figure 3. Figure 2 The strategies for knowledge management in organization level. Strategies for knowledge management in organization level Knowledge management commission of King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang Strategy Objective Indicator Policy setting To be a guideline set by the commission. It is based on the targets and strategies for knowledge management of the organization. The commission and all staffs can use it as instruction to execute in the same direction. Information technology system To collect, arrange, proceed, print, create the report, and communicate among users for knowledge management. The personnel of King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang can also commonly and 1. The rank of external quality evaluation is one of the topfive universities. 2. The knowledge management prize from the national competition. 3. Praise from government and private agencies about knowledge management. 4. No any complaint about information technology system. 6

Training Monitoring and reward broadly discuss. To enhance the knowledge, skill, and attitude about the process of knowledge management system and information technology system including the creation of community website and the private blog as well as the use of Twitter, and Facebook. To monitor the efficiency of knowledge management implementation whether it is consistent with objectives and targets. If it can meet the desirable targets, it should reward to those who cooperate. 5. Numbers of personnel to be trained about knowledge management and 90% of all will pass the evaluation. 6. At least 80% of all personnel can create the website, Twitter, and Facebook. 7. The formation and proficient implementation of the monitoring system of knowledge management. 8. No any complaint about the fairness of awarding. Figure 3 The strategies for knowledge management in department level. The strategies for knowledge management in department level The knowledge management commission of departments Strategy Objective Indicator Participation The personnel of King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang participate in the designation of mission for the process of knowledge management. Motivation Community establishing Action-plan setting It is the process to motivate the staffs of King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang to have an attempt to response in order to acquire the success of knowledge management. To gather the staff of King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang as a group in order to exchange, learn, and create the brand new knowledge which will support the effectiveness of work. To be a operation guideline for the staffs of King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang to recognize and perform following the plan effectively. Activity support To motivate the staffs of King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang to join the knowledge 1. The results from the evaluation criteria about the monitoring of internal quality are better. 2. More than 80% of the personnel of King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang have participation. 3. Every faculty and office have to establish its own communities. 4. The action-plan of knowledge management with the details of projects. 5. The broadly public relation about knowledge management such as via poster or information system. 6. The knowledgemanagement competition is held at least twice a year. 7. At least 10 issues to be submitted to the national competition of knowledge 7

Evaluation management activities. To evaluate the knowledge management implementation of the departments whether it is consistent with objectives in order to improve and develop for the effectiveness. management. 8. The minimum evaluation of the personnel satisfaction is 80%. The strategies for knowledge management in organization and department level can be generated as the roadmap of knowledge management shown in figure 4. Figure 4 Knowledge Management Roadmap KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT MAP Capability of king Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladklabang Strategy for knowledge management Strategies for knowledge management in organization level Policy setting Information technology system Training and learning Monitoring and reward The strategies for knowledge management in department level Participation Motivation Community establishing Action-plan setting Activity support Evaluation Influenced factors of knowledge management Situation of knowledge management Vision Organizational Culture Management Information Technology Evaluation Knowledge Creation Knowledge Collection Knowledge TransferKnowledge Utilization It can be concluded about the situation and the influenced factors of knowledge management in King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang that the executives have to set strategies for knowledge management in order to achieve the objectives. As the definition from Certo, Samuel C. and Peter, J. P. (1991:25), a definition of strategy is a plan of operation that leads to a success of organization s objectives. Consistency with David (1995:37), a definition of strategy is a plan for long-run objectives. Furthermore, as a definition from Thongchai Suntiwong (2542:41), a strategy is a scheme with readiness, completeness, and coordination which supports the organization to handle and confront with any environment. The organization has a strategy to guarantee a success of desirable objectives. Consistency with Somyos Navikarn (2538:63), a definition of strategy is a technique of operation to accomplish a mission or desirable objectives of organization. And last but not least, as Boonsong Hanpanich s (2546:88) definition, a strategy is a plan or a technique for implementation and operation to meet the appointed targets. In conclusion, to set the strategies we should design and choose them appropriately. Moreover the implementation and the operation of strategies have to be consistent with the structure and culture of organization. The strategies for knowledge management are a fundamental to set scheme and framework which are the core of knowledge management as well as the implementation. Furthermore, the value of knowledge and the pattern of knowledge development are also advantage for the institution and personnel. 8

RECOMMENDATIONS From the results, this study comes up with 2 major recommendations as described below. 1. Recommendations for implementation The substance of this study is to propose the universities and the educational institutions to apply knowledge management as a practical guideline for the effective operation. It can be summarized as follow. 1) Knowledge management commission in organization and operation level should use the SWOT analysis before launch the strategies for knowledge management. It leads to the understanding about strengths and weaknesses which supports the planning of knowledge management strategies to be correct and effective. 2) In the aspect of the implementation of knowledge management, the knowledge management commission of the organization and departments have to in-depth study to classify data into either information or knowledge (KM). 2. Recommendation for further study The main recommendations for further study can be concluded as follow. 1) In-depth study about knowledge management in all universities across the country. The scope of this study is just a sample from King Mongkut s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, so the results of this study can not refer to others. 2) To compare knowledge management between public university and private university. The results from this further study can be applied to improve the potential of both. 3) Have to monitor and evaluate the activities of knowledge management, and then improve them. The improvement of knowledge management is needed to achieve the organization s objectives. REFERENCES Boonsong Hanpanich. 2003 Knowledge Management Development of Higher Education Institution in Thailand. Dissertation of Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education, Graduated School. Certo, Samuel C. and Peter, J. P. 1991. Strategic Management : Concept and Applications. New York : McGraw-Hall. David, Fred R.1995. Strategic management. 6 th ed. New Jersey : Prentice-Hall, Inc., Katsoulakos, P. and A Rutherford, A.2551. Knowledge management strategies that create value. www.kbos.net/imagefiles/unified%20pm%20km%205.jpg%20google.com Nursing Department, 1994. The Revolution of Thai Nursing System. Nursing Journal. Pisit Chareonsudjai, 2006. Management of Research Development to Be the Excellent Research University. Research and Development Center Publishing, Khonkaen University. 9

Somyos Navikarn. 1995. Organizational Behavior and Management (Third Edition). Bangkok : Manager Publishing Tassana Buntong. 2000. The Revolution of Nursing Service to Be Consistent with Desirable Thai Health Service System (Second Edition). Bangkok : Thailand Nursing Council Publishing. Teaunjai Raksapong 2008. Knowledge Management Development for Academic Management of Fundamental Learning Institution with Participated Practical Research. Faculty of Education, Educational Administration, Graduated School, Burapha University Tipparat Atiwattanachai. 2008. Knowledge Management of Graduated School of Management in Khonkaen University. Individual Study of Master degree in Education, Educational Administration, Faculty of Education, Khonkaen University. Thongchai Santiwong, 1999. Organizational Behavior (Sixth Edition). Bangkok : Research and Development Center Publishing, Khonkaen University 10