Quantifying 'ba': An Investigation of the Variables that are Pertinent to Knowledge Creation

A comprehensive and feasible model that delineates the interrelationships among diversified learning mechanisms, information management and knowledge creation is absent. This study aims to fill this void. Unlike previous research, this study investigates the causality of knowledge creation from two different perspectives: information management strategy, i.e. distributed data application and administration (DDAA), and organizational learning mechanisms (OLM). A term has been defined, OIM (organizational information mechanism), to represent the composite effect of both DDAA and OLM. In this framework, it is argued that the composite effect of information management and organizational learning mechanisms influence the result of knowledge creation. In order to test the feasibility of this framework, an empirical study was conducted. This study employed a survey instrument which contained data collected from 500 organizations in manufacturing, trade, transportation and service industries, and academic institutions. In all, 232 usable responses were analysed. The study identified three causal relationships: (1) the composite effect of DDAA is positively related to knowledge creation; (2) the composite effect of OLM is positively related to knowledge creation; and (3) the composite effect of OIM (organizational information mechanism) is positively related to knowledge creation. The implications of the study are discussed, and further research directions are proposed.