Knowledge management in industry 4.0 environment for sustainable competitive advantage: a strategic framework

ABSTRACT

Knowledge is an intangible asset that can increase employees’ and organisation’s effectiveness. Limited research has been done to upgrade existing knowledge management systems in the Industry 4.0 environment. Hence, this study identifies thirteen critical factors for developing a knowledge management system in Industry 4.0 environment. Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) is utilised to develop the structural relationships among these factors. Finally, fuzzy MICAMC is used to categorise the factors based on driving-dependence value. The results reveal the direct and indirect effects of these factors in developing a KM system in the digital age. Findings suggest that top management support, development of knowledge management strategy, knowledge friendly culture, creation and maintenance of digital infrastructure, and employees training are the major drivers for developing a KM system in Industry 4.0 environment. Organizations can use the proposed framework to prioritise their actions to develop a KM system in the Industry 4.0 environment.

KEYWORDS:

• Knowledge management
• digitisation
• ISO 30401
• Industry 4.0
• sustainable competitive advantage
• ISM
• fuzzy logic
• MICMAC

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by theauthor(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/14778238.2022.2144512