In recent years, the business environment is rapidly changed, the ever-changing of technology, so continue to create competitive advantage and profitability of the resources is the unique Knowledge Management (KM) of the enterprise. In particular, the characteristics of the semiconductor packaging and testing industry is depreciation fast, technical and professional talent-intensive, capacity and yield must to be able to meet as soon as possible in order to catch up with the rate of depreciation of production machinery, in order to keep profitability and competitiveness, so the R & D, KM of production technology and skills experience heritage become very important. Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc. (ASE Inc.), the world's leading providers of semiconductor manufacturing services company, founded in 1984, focused on semiconductor customers, offering a comprehensive range of IC packaging and testing services. ASE started the KM at 2001, divided four phase, and though experienced the industrial boom and the financial tsunami, still successfully developed copper process with leading technology. The gold ten-year plan which was launched in 2010 continuously expands capacity and R & D innovation, and expects 2018-2020 to challenge the annual revenue goal of $ 8.4 billion. This research is to analyze the evolution of KM on ASE, and try to identify the characteristics of the semiconductor manufacturing industry about the development of KM, through the results of this research enable to understand the evolutionary process of KM development and change in order to proceed the comprehensive and cross-industry KM for the evolution of research in the future.

Application of Knowledge Management on Performance Appraisal and Management System Abstract The goal of competitive strategy is to create competitive advantages and gain the maximum value. On the other hand, competitive advantage lies in differentiation which originates from exclusive ¡§core competence and resource¡¨. In fact, what so called ¡§core competence and resource¡¨ tightly relates to ¡§knowledge¡¨ because to compare with other resource, knowledge has the characteristics of being ¡§scarce¡¨, ¡§difficult to imitate¡¨ ¡§unable to copy¡¨, and ¡§granted with exclusive rights¡¨ (Hsu Shihchun, 2000) and these are the essential elements for a company to remain its competitive advantages. Thus, Knowledge Management (KM) determines powerfully the survival of a company. In terms of business management, the ultimate goal of Performance Management System is to enhance organization efficiency which is built on the integration and improvement of business operation. It is also an important system aiming for improving or strengthening the system of ¡§core competence and resource¡¨ building. This coincides with the nature of knowledge management and benefits each other. Management activities such as production, marketing, R&D, accounting, purchasing, and human resource tie with ¡§the import , capture , retrieval , access , use , sharing , creation of knowledge¡¨ and this evidently indicates the popularity and long existence of KM activities. This study attempted to use KM Process as the base to construct a case study model with theoretical and practical application through the application demand of Knowledge Technology (KT). Before constructing the model, this study first reviewed the previous literature and understood the definition of KM and Performance Appraisal and Management. With the help of diagnosis tool, Six Box Model (Weisbord, 1976), we improved the study model of Knowledge Based Performance Appraisal and Management System (KBPAMS). Meanwhile, we adopted dimensional elements to compile an ideal ¡§Study Form for KBPAMS.¡¨ We also selected certain companies as the cases to examine the existing system and conducted one by one in-depth interviews with employees of chosen companies. Due to the limitations on study time and human resources, random sampling as well as convenience sampling were excluded; purposive sampling was chosen to understand the actual demand and opinions of workers. Next, Flow Chart and handling description were two methods of presentation to construct a simple ¡§KBPAMS¡¨ case study model as the reference for future establishment of information system. In the end, we used the improvement of the ¡§KBPAMS¡¨ case study model. To analyze the six dimensional elements of the ¡§KBPAMS¡¨ and studied it by open-system-view. Four suggestions were offered for conclusion as follows: 1.Returning to the humanity; 2.Integrating business culture and creating business characteristics; 3.long-term Investing on KBPAMS; 4.Gaining full-support from the top-manager. Keywords¡G Knowledge Management (KM), Knowledge Technology (KT), Performance Appraisal and Management, Performance Appraisal System (PAS)

<p><strong>Abstract</strong></p><p>Swedish universities have always received greater attention from international students thanks to their well-quality and tuition-free programs. However, due to the introduction of tuition fee for non-EU/EEA students from fall 2011, it is predictable that by raising the threat of losing a rather large portion of international students, Swedish universities may experience a critical period over the early years after this change. This is occurring in an environment in which universities attempt to leverage their tangible and intangible resources for maintaining their competitive niche in the worldwide market. Besides, many universities have moved towards establishing student-centric strategies as a means to achieve a high level of students’ satisfaction and long-lasting relationships. The issue has become so substantial in the recent years that, as Pausits (2007) has also suggested, universities need to transform into “relation-based organizations”.</p><p>To solve this possible problem and in order to help Swedish universities to pass this critical situation safely, this study has conducted a qualitative research on the basis of analysis of the empirical data gathered from a series of semi-structured phone and personal interviews with five Swedish universities that have the most number of international students (Lund, Uppsala, Linköping, Jönköping and Blekinge Universities) with the intense support of previous literature and the theoretical body of the study under investigation which has lead to the creation of a knowledge-based CRM model.</p><p>The main aim of this conceptual CRM model is to systematically organize the operations of building, managing and retaining relationships between Swedish universities and international students. This model has been formed by combination of two theories of CRM, as a business strategy which has been proved to be one the most efficient customer-oriented business approaches within the past decades, and Knowledge Management (KM) as the pivot for effective operation of the proposed CRM framework by providing a constant learning environment.</p>

The construction industry has long been criticized as being not advance enough to use information communication technology (ICT) and slow to adopt knowledge management (KM). This research demonstrates how using an effective and efficient ICT systems can improve KM, and that an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system can be one tools to help improve KM. An ERP system is also a powerful tool to help integrate business processes which has particular use in the construction industry. The principle objective of this research was to explore the drivers and inhibiters that determined successful adoption and use of an ERP system at its actual implementation stage. Secondly, it aimed to identify successful factors of a partnering strategy and its integration into the ERP system. The third objective was to investigate the appropriate leadership style that influenced the ERP system and the partnering strategy, and to identify the impact of culture on the leadership style. The research was conducted within the context of a Hong Kong construction organization. This research makes a contribution in two spheres: PM and the construction industry. The first implication for PM theory is to illustrate how knowledge has been efficiently managed within a construction organization by using ICT/ERP.

The globalisation of commerce, alongside growing information on the Internet, has increased the demand of E-Learning (EL). Furthermore, knowledge management (KM) is capable of generating significant organisational/institutional competitive advantages. KM and EL systems contribution to the requirements of education has resulted in their increased demand of their integration across business/academic world. Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives is one of the most widely used framework of organising levels of expertise. Bloom’s different cognitive domains are based on a hierarchy of learning which progresses from simple to complex and from concrete to abstract. This study considers ways to improve higher education in Saudi Arabia, based on the significant factors (of KM/EL systems) contributing to learner performance and the way in which New Bloom’s Taxonomy could potentially affect/benefit these individual systems; previous academic works will be considered, in an attempt to achieve higher standards of education using this theory/framework. This research presents the value of learning process/tactical approaches, to encourage staff and students to accept the idea of integrating EL and KM factors under New Bloom’s Taxonomy; examples will be given to demonstrate instances where systems have been adopted successfully. To investigate the effectiveness of New Bloom’s Taxonomy on the integration of EL and KM factors in Saudi higher education, a questionnaire methodology was chosen to collect data from experts of both systems; furthermore, the public sector was chosen as it has adopted both systems. Therefore, an integrated framework is proposed.

In recent years the construction industry has become increasingly aware of the potential of the technical knowledge held by construction professionals and the need to manage it effectively. However, organisations have experienced numerous problems in implementing and sustaining Knowledge Management (KM) initiatives. A key reason for this, which has been cited both within industry and academia, is a lack of understanding of the best-suited KM approaches available and how to adopt them. In particular, the importance of people-orientated KM practices, specifically in the case of construction firms who have a high level of dependence on the tacit knowledge of their employees, has been well documented with many KM authors calling for further research in this area. The research undertaken for this study was initiated in response to the need for further research and an improved understanding of KM (people-orientated KM in particular) best practice. The research was also focussed on establishing an effective KM initiative within Ramboll Whitbybird; the sponsoring organisation. The central aim of the research was therefore to “deliver a framework that facilitates the retention and reuse of knowledge, which will increase Ramboll Whitbybird's potential to drive engineering best practice and respond appropriately to conventional and emerging business opportunities.” To achieve this an action research approach was adopted, facilitated through the use of literature reviews, interviews, focus groups, and other data collection methods, to enable the findings to be implemented within an industrial setting. Through extensive industry involvement the research highlighted the core components necessary for a successful KM initiative, and the actions necessary from those involved in implementing, managing and sustaining KM activities within construction firms. The findings demonstrated that an organisation wishing to realise effective KM needs to establish a clear definition and understanding of KM across the business, which can be achieved through the compilation of a KM strategy (statement) and action plan. It also needs to acknowledge the importance of addressing the critical factors that will determine the success of its KM initiative such as the need for KM champions and a supporting team, a fit with the way people work and an alignment with business objectives. The research also highlighted the importance of people-orientated KM practices, and that construction organisations in particular should identify and prioritise KM activities such as Communities of Practice (CoPs), due to their reliance on tacit knowledge transfer. However, in order to maximise the benefits to individuals and the business, the organisation will need to take a ‘light touch' approach to the management of CoPs. Supporting people-based KM activities with the right technology is an important factor, particularly as organisations expand and become more geographically dispersed. To ensure that this technology is an effective supporter of KM it needs to be tailored to fit with the KM needs of the business, and will need to become de-centralised in its operation. Finally, the research outlined the importance for the organisation to consider the integration of KM within the daily operation of the business by incorporating KM effectively into communication and reporting structures, while also ensuring that it becomes a core aspect of its Quality Assurance (QA) procedures.

Abstract Swedish universities have always received greater attention from international students thanks to their well-quality and tuition-free programs. However, due to the introduction of tuition fee for non-EU/EEA students from fall 2011, it is predictable that by raising the threat of losing a rather large portion of international students, Swedish universities may experience a critical period over the early years after this change. This is occurring in an environment in which universities attempt to leverage their tangible and intangible resources for maintaining their competitive niche in the worldwide market. Besides, many universities have moved towards establishing student-centric strategies as a means to achieve a high level of students’ satisfaction and long-lasting relationships. The issue has become so substantial in the recent years that, as Pausits (2007) has also suggested, universities need to transform into “relation-based organizations”. To solve this possible problem and in order to help Swedish universities to pass this critical situation safely, this study has conducted a qualitative research on the basis of analysis of the empirical data gathered from a series of semi-structured phone and personal interviews with five Swedish universities that have the most number of international students (Lund, Uppsala, Linköping, Jönköping and Blekinge Universities) with the intense support of previous literature and the theoretical body of the study under investigation which has lead to the creation of a knowledge-based CRM model. The main aim of this conceptual CRM model is to systematically organize the operations of building, managing and retaining relationships between Swedish universities and international students. This model has been formed by combination of two theories of CRM, as a business strategy which has been proved to be one the most efficient customer-oriented business approaches within the past decades, and Knowledge Management (KM) as the pivot for effective operation of the proposed CRM framework by providing a constant learning environment.

The key to understanding the development of competitive advantage is to understand knowledge and how it is managed and shared. Organisations not only need to understand comprehensively the concept of knowledge in order to manage it effectively, but also to create and maintain competitive advantages, especially as the business environment has become increasingly competitive in recent years. The aim of this study is to understand how the knowledge management (KM) concept can be harnessed as a vital factor in the enhancement of productivity, performance and the competitiveness of organisations. Therefore, grounded theory strategy has been used, providing in-depth information relevant to KM implementation. Data were collected from face-to-face semi-structured interviews with 24 top managers from 19 different top-ranking companies operating in Saudi Arabia. As a result of constant comparative analysis of the collected data, five major categories emerged: barriers to KM; organisational learning (OL); means of communication; critical successful factors (CSFs); and impacts of KM on organisational performance (OP). The most common barrier to knowledge sharing is the unwillingness of employees to participate and share their knowledge. Moreover, OL is very important. It is considered to be the main goal of KM and it helps organisations to sustain a competitive advantage and improve employees’ performance and efficiency by encouraging them to learn and share knowledge through the creation of a good learning environment. A well-structured communication system is also a crucial factor for KM success because its role is to ensure and facilitate the passing of knowledge to the appropriate people. Furthermore, there are 14 factors that are very important to the successful implementation of KM and these positively influence employees’ willingness to share knowledge. The study found that the most important factor influencing the success of KM implementation is the employees’ willingness to participate in KM activities and share their knowledge. This implies that organisations that want to be knowledge-based by implementing KM activities need to improve the willingness of employees to participate in the project, otherwise it will fail. Therefore, the researcher has labelled this category ‘employees’ willingness’ and has selected it as a core category. The comparative analysis between knowledge-based and non-knowledge-based organisational performance is presented in this study in order to determine how KM enhances productivity, performance and competitiveness. Therefore, the theoretical and practical contribution was discussed, as well as the findings. The theoretical model illustrates how employees’ willingness can be influenced by the other categories. A theoretical contribution of the model is the determination of the reasons for employees in knowledge-based organisations being more interactive and participating in KM activities by analysing the barriers that impede the adoption of KM activities and, especially, knowledge-sharing activities between employees, as well as the factors that aid the adoption of knowledge-sharing activities. This aided the researcher to determine the conditions that influence employees to share more, or less. The researcher concludes that highlighting the human side of the KM perspective is another of the research’s contribution to knowledge, achieved by covering the current lack of existing empirical studies in the field. Furthermore, the main practical contribution of this study is the presentation of a framework model that demonstrates the process for effective KM implementation. This model is considered to be a summary of the experiences of the organisations participating in this research.

The globalisation of commerce, alongside growing information on the Internet, has increased the demand of E-Learning (EL). Furthermore, knowledge management (KM) is capable of generating significant organisational/institutional competitive advantages. KM and EL systems contribution to the requirements of education has resulted in their increased demand of their integration across business/academic world. Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives is one of the most widely used framework of organising levels of expertise. Bloom’s different cognitive domains are based on a hierarchy of learning which progresses from simple to complex and from concrete to abstract. This study considers ways to improve higher education in Saudi Arabia, based on the significant factors (of KM/EL systems) contributing to learner performance and the way in which New Bloom’s Taxonomy could potentially affect/benefit these individual systems; previous academic works will be considered, in an attempt to achieve higher standards of education using this theory/framework. This research presents the value of learning process/tactical approaches, to encourage staff and students to accept the idea of integrating EL and KM factors under New Bloom’s Taxonomy; examples will be given to demonstrate instances where systems have been adopted successfully. To investigate the effectiveness of New Bloom’s Taxonomy on the integration of EL and KM factors in Saudi higher education, a questionnaire methodology was chosen to collect data from experts of both systems; furthermore, the public sector was chosen as it has adopted both systems. Therefore, an integrated framework is proposed.

Measuring knowledge management performance was one of, if not the most challenging knowledge management activities. This study suggested using intellectual capital as a proxy for knowledge management performance in evaluating its impact on organizational performance. The Value Added Intellectual Coefficient model was employed to measure intellectual capital. Although being used widely in research, the model had its limitations. Also, for intellectual capital measurement, there was a lack of guidelines supported by empirical evidence or best practices. The present study aimed to test the classic and a modified version of this model, and based on the results, shed light on whether the classic version was good enough or the modified one should be highly recommended. The financial fundamental and market data of 425 randomly selected publicly listed firms were collected, and the structural equation modeling technique was employed to test the models. Chi-square difference test was performed to determine whether there was a statistically significant difference between these two models. The results of the tests indicated that the difference between them was insignificant. Therefore, it was concluded that the classic model is adequate, and it can be used effectively to measure intellectual capital. Adding two new efficiency elements – research and development efficiency and relational capital efficiency – in the model did not provide any significant benefit.