The Effect of Knowledge Management in Enhancing the Procurement Process in the UK Healthcare Supply Chain

Abstract

This article investigates the gap of diverse knowledge and misunderstanding between different parties in supply chain procurement in two West-London hospitals. The case studies identified communication as an issue in sharing and transferring the different knowledge between the two parties at the requirements stage and throughout the supply chain management. The developed framework facilitates sharing both tacit medical knowledge and tacit technical knowledge to be treated as continuous processes in matching requirements and specifications.

Keywords:

• tacit (sticky) and explicit (fluid) knowledge
• knowledge requirements framework
• knowledge sharing and communication
• supply chain
• healthcare sector