Knowledge Management Enablers and Barriers in the Army: An Interpretive Structural Modeling Approach

Background: Lately, Knowledge Management (KM) is an essential component of decisions and outcomes. Thus, large number of organizations aspires to implement KM. However, there are a few factors known as Knowledge Management Enablers and Barriers, henceforth, referred to as EBs which affect KM.Similarly, it would be imperative that these facets be analysed and tested in a closed environment like the Army. Objective:This paper studiesthe basic relationships amongst the shortlistedEBs. It also triesto understand their inter-se priorities and to identify those which are pivotal and drive others and also those which are driven. Methods andAnalysis: Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) has been adopted for this study. The inter-se and inter relationships between the EBsdistinctly emerged from the study. These EBs werethen categorised, based on their ability to drive othersor their dependence on others. Ultimately,how critical each factor is for the success of KM in the army environment was identified. Conclusion/ Further Study: Enablers and Barriers are the key in the KM implementation process. Conclusively, all nine EBs are relevant although they exhibit a varying degree of relative importance. Future study, could quantify the framework obtained from ISM model, using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Then focus on sub-centres of each factor having Driving and Dependence Powers, and how they will impact and also give the impetus, for KM to succeed.