Knowledge Management (KM) is often referred to as “a conscious strategy of getting the right
knowledge to the right people at the right time; it is also helping people share and put information into
action in ways that strive to improve organisational performance” (O'Dell et al. 2000, p.154). The
importance of KM for large, small and medium organisations has been well recognised. A number of
perspectives of KM are advanced in the literature. These include the philosophical, cognitive, network
and community perspectives (Kakabadse et al, 2003). The variety of perspectives influences the types
of KM strategies that exist and have been categorised as being of three types: (1) focused (2) balanced
and (3) dynamic (Choi & Lee, 2002). The predominant KM perspective and/or focus might have
significant implications on organisational endeavours to put in place a strategy to manage knowledge.
Furthermore, there are also several approaches to developing strategy within organisations, either at
the corporate level, or the operational level. Strategy development could be an entirely social process
where stakeholders negotiate an intent and outcome. It could also be a power game where actors draw
from the structure of legitimisation to influence theirs’ or others’ behaviour. Developing strategy could
also be a formal, rational and organisational value maximising process (Mintzberg, 1998). How one
views and develops strategy is likely to influence its content, process, and outcome.
This article is based on an action research study on a knowledge management strategy developed for a
mid-sized supply chain solution provider in Australia, henceforth known as CPM. The action was to
develop a KM strategy as ratified in the firm’s business plan for 2006-2008. Our research was
designed to address two questions. First, how can CPM formulate and implement a KM strategy to
achieve better knowledge sharing? Second, how can those involved in projects identify the critical
success factors of developing KM strategies to achieve effective results for the organisation? The
objective was to solve a specific strategy formulation problem in CPM in collaboration with its
management and staff. In so doing, we wanted to test the CSFs identified in existing literature and
contribute to knowledge about issues and challenges of using CSFs in practice.