Taiwan SME Knowledge Management And Organizational Performance

The subject of this study is on the SME's Knowledge Management and Organizational Performance. Based on the study of the SME leaders' awareness of transformational leadership, this study will firstly gather Taiwanese and foreign research literatures related to transformational leadership, knowledge management and organizational performance, categorize and analyze them, and then develop a draft for the study's questionnaire. The next step is the carry out the questionnaire draft review work by assessment of the credibility and feasibility test, and the experts' comments which subsequently lead to the completion of the formal study questionnaire.The target group of this questionnaire is the 160 Taiwanese SMEs which are the recipients of the 1st to 8th National Awards of SMEA, endorsed by the Small and Medium Enterprise Administration (SMEA) of Ministry of Economics Affairs (MOEA). These questionnaires are given to 4 business executives from each company and in total, 640 questionnaires are given out, with 572 returned. The valid returns are 552, with a valid return percentage of 86.25%. Besides using the descriptive statistic for this study, the one-way ANOVA method is used to test the difference in target group background. The Scheffe method is used for post mortem comparison. Furthermore, by employing the Pearson product-moment correlation, canonical correlation and stepwise multiple regression analysis methods, we can understand the different levels of relationship between transformational leadership, knowledge management and organizational performance, and the predictive outcome of regression mode. Lastly, using the results of statistical analysis, we can engage in a further and deeper interview with the domain experts and reach a more profound level of understanding. Together with literature analysis, statistical tests from the questionnaires and expert interview analysis, this study has reached the following conclusions:1. The 3 important statistical analysis findings of Transformational leadership, knowledge management and organizational performance are:a. Transformational leadership analysis findings: On the better understanding of transformational leadership: Business executives with longer employment histories outnumber those with shorter ones. Administrative department heads outnumber the operational department heads. Business executives in newly set up companies outnumber those with longer company histories.b. Knowledge Management analysis findings: On the better understanding of knowledge management:? Business executives with shorter appointment periods possess a higher awareness.? Business executives in companies with shorter set up possess have a higher awarenessc. Organizational Performance analysis findings: On the better understanding of organizational performance:? Younger business executives outnumber those who are older.? Production department heads outnumber the administrative department heads.2. The 3 important correlation analysis findings of organizational performance, knowledge management and organizational performance are:a. Transformational leadership and knowledge management have significantly high correlations at all levels.b. Transformational leadership and knowledge management have high correlations at these levels: Individual concern, establishing prospect and inspiration encouragement. The higher correlation values will also result in positive influences on the organizational performances, namely in creativity and adaptability.3. Predictive Modelsa. Set up a 'Transformational Leadership' versus 'Organizational Performance' predictive model: With 'individual concern, establishing prospect and inspirational encouragement' versus 'Organizational Performance' as a good predictive model.b. Set up a "Knowledge Management' versus 'Organizational Performance' predictive model: With 'Knowledge Transfer, Knowledge Application and Knowledge Acquisition' versus 'Organizational Performance' as a good predictive model.Based on the conclusive findings of this study, advices on Transformational Leadership, Knowledge Management and Organizational Performance can be offered to SMEs and future researchers on these topics. The findings can also serve as a good study reference material.