Case Studies on the Implementation of Knowledge Management in the Distribution Industry: Worldpeace and Alltek

Abstract

A hot topic, knowledge management (KM) is enthusiastically discussed and implemented in high-tech and software industries, as it is the basis for competitive advantage. We have heretofore neglect whether KM is suitable for implementing in other industries. In this article, two cases from the distribution industry, Worldpeace and Alltek, were studied to illustrate how KM is implemented and increases the firms’ competitive advantage. We analyze the implementation of KM in terms of knowledge creation, storage/retrieval, transfer and application. As distributors, these firms have to learn and change faster than designers and manufacturers. The findings point out that not only the upstream and downstream firms in IC industry have to implement KM, but also the midstream firms could benefit, as they face the rapidly changing technologies of upstream firms and the different and changing requirements of downstream customers. Moreover, some insights from these case studies and the enabling roles of KM processes are presented in the discussion section of the paper.