A Model for Selecting the Knowledge Management Strategy in a Supply Chain

Global competition and rapid changes in demand and the need for agile supplies have increased the importance of knowledge management as a strategic issue and a source of competitive advantage in supply chains. Choosing a knowledge management strategy in supply chains is important, because if the right strategy is not adopted with the supply chain, the knowledge management success probability in the supply chain will decrease. In the first step of the present study, the variables affecting the knowledge management strategy in the supply chain are identified and a model for strategy selection is proposed. In this model, supply chain strategy, cultural factors, distribution network structure, knowledge-intensive areas, knowledge creation and dissemination processes, human resources approach and information technology maturity of the supply chain are examined, respectively, and the relationship of each one with system-oriented and human-oriented KM strategies is specified. In order to validate the model, the opinions of experts in the field of knowledge management are used. In the next step, in order to model the effect of factors on strategy selection, a fuzzy inference system is designed using the MATLAB software. Iran Khodro company's is selected as a case study and the factors affecting the knowledge management strategy in this company's supply chain are examined, based on the opinions of chain managers and using the proposed model and system. The results show that the appropriate strategy for this chain is a system-oriented strategy, and finally the supply chain knowledge management strategies based on the selected strategy are presented to the company under study. The proposed system in this study can be used to select the knowledge management strategy in any supply chain.