Green Knowledge Management in Organization: Antecedents and Opportunities for Shaping, Research, and Practices

Introduction

In the era of the knowledge economy, organizations have invested considerable attention in maintaining the suitability of products and services (Yu et al., 2022). This is because an organization's sustainability significantly influences its environment. As the world focuses on attaining sustainable development goals (SDG), organizational environmental sustainability is also a great challenge (UNDP, 2021). In the current globalized market, as the United Nations recommends, eco-friendly practices and information extend beyond the single organization to all stakeholders (UNDP, 2021). Since green knowledge management (GKM) is a recent phenomenon, the literature needs to provide a study that adequately covers all dimensions of KM with a particular focus on the natural environment under one umbrella (Yu et al., 2022). GKM is a framework that applies knowledge management principles to environmental sustainability (Yu et al., 2022). It involves the systematic creation, sharing, and application of knowledge and information related to environmental sustainability to promote more sustainable practices and reduce the impact of human activity on the environment (Yu et al., 2022; Sahoo, Kumar, & Upadhyay, 2022; Wang et al., 2022). Abbas and Khan (2022) found that GKM is a significant positive predictor of green organizational innovation and green performance.

In addition, green innovation partially mediates between GKM and corporate green performance. Gauthier and Zhang (2020) revealed the dynamic nature of the strategy process in exploring the nature of discourse and suggested that green knowledge management addresses a key megatrend that may form a foundation for strategic renewal. Shehzad et al. (2023) also argued that green knowledge management partially mediates the relationship between green entrepreneurial orientation and exploitative and exploratory green innovation. Wang et al. (2022) found that GKM strengthens organizational capabilities to achieve green innovation. Furthermore, another study hinted that green technology innovation catalyzes the translation of green knowledge management into improved corporate environmental performance (Sahoo, Kumar, & Upadhyay, 2022).

GKM can be applied in a wide range of settings, from businesses and organizations to communities and governments. By promoting more sustainable practices and reducing the impact of human activity on the environment, GKM can help create a more sustainable and resilient future for all. Several antecedents can facilitate the greening of knowledge management in organizations. First, senior leadership must be committed to sustainability and communicate this commitment throughout the organization. Second, there must be a culture of sustainability within the organization, where sustainability principles and practices are integrated into all aspects of organizational life. Third, a strategic approach to knowledge management must be aligned with the organization's sustainability goals. Opportunities for greening knowledge management in organizations include the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to support sustainability initiatives, the adoption of collaborative and participatory knowledge management practices that engage employees and stakeholders in sustainability efforts, and the development of metrics and evaluation processes to track progress towards sustainability goals. Unfortunately, limited studies have focused on identifying new antecedents and their significant positive outcomes in organizations. Currently, identifying and prioritizing environmental issues and challenges the organization or community faces. Developing and implementing strategies and action plans to address the environmental challenges, using the knowledge and best practices generated through GKM. Therefore, to complement the existing scant literature, we offer a special issue on green knowledge management and propose different antecedents and opportunities as a function of changes in the knowledge-based climate.
 

List of topic areas

Manuscripts in this stream will recognize green knowledge management in terms of knowledge management dimensions in groups, settings, or contexts; draw on empirical research based on quantitative, qualitative, or case-study research; present new or existing theoretical models; and/or introduce new evidence-based interventions and practices that facilitate or improve sustainable organizational performance across different workplace settings.

• Empirical (quantitative and/or qualitative) green knowledge management research; -greening interventions;
   
• Theoretical and conceptual papers discussing the concept of green knowledge management in the organization;
   
• Manuscripts discussing methodological issues when examining green knowledge management research in workplace settings;
   
• Manuscripts building new theories regarding green knowledge management;
   
• Meta-analysis of green knowledge management;
   
• How green knowledge management influence technology and innovation;
   
• Implications of green knowledge creation, green knowledge sharing, green knowledge storage, green knowledge acquisition and green knowledge application etc.
   
• AI-Powered Green Knowledge management and information systems;
   
• Social media influence on green knowledge management;
   
• How green knowledge management influence green innovation and organizational green culture;
   
• To identify and addresses major knowledge gaps in green growth theory and practice.
   

Submissions Information

Submissions are made using ScholarOne Manuscripts. Author guidelines must be strictly followed.

Authors should select (from the drop-down menu) the special issue title at the appropriate step in the submission process, i.e. in response to “Please select the issue you are submitting to”. Submitted articles must not have been previously published, nor should they be under consideration for publication anywhere else, while under review for this journal.

Submit via ScholarOne

Author Guidelines
 

Key deadlines

Opening date: 28/06/2023

Closing date: 28/02/2024

Email for submissions: [email protected]