Exploring the relationship between innovativeness and the stages of knowledge management in Technology and Engineering Consultancies in Singapore

Abstract

This paper aims to examine the impact of the various stages of managing knowledge - knowledge acquisition, dissemination and utilization - on the innovativeness of Technology and Engineering Consultancies (TEC) in Singapore, by drawing on results from questionnaires mailed to 446 TEC firms. According to the findings, knowledge acquisition and knowledge utilization have a positive impact on the innovativeness of TEC firms and this impact is stronger for firms operating in more volatile environments. TEC firms are typically relying on having a large portfolio of existing plans that can be reused rather than innovating. However, the clients of TEC firms are usually lead users in the industry, which may lead to the need for further development of inadequate current practices in order to remain innovative in the long run.