An Exploratory Study on Knowledge Management Characteristics and Challenges in Mass Customisation

The characteristics of knowledge management (KM) in mass customisation were newly extracted and the effect of those characteristics on KM performance was examined through case studies in this research. The firms implementing mass customisation are good cases adopting recent changes in business environment including increased variability of customer needs, technologies, and increase of the need for KM. From the results of this research, several differentiated characteristics compared to the cases not implementing mass customisation were extracted. These include: (1) extended scope of KM (customer, product and process knowledge); (2) increase in the volume of knowledge and knowledge processes; and (3) increase in the need for knowledge flexibility and knowledge variability. In addition, it was found that the capability to manage these characteristics positively affected KM performance in mass customisation. Therefore, firms intending to implement KM for mass customisation need to consider the differentiated characteristics of KM. Research was conducted through interviews with company directors or managers in charge of KM in selected companies implementing mass customisation.