Measurement invariance of the Knowledge Management Questionnaire in local authorities

Elisabeth Brito, Leonor Pais, Nuno Rebelo dos Santos

Abstract


Purpose: The aims of this research were to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Knowledge Management Questionnaire (KMQ), and to check in what extent the meaning of knowledge management is the same for workers in quality certified and non-certified Portuguese municipalities using measurement invariance tests.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The KMQ was applied to 972 employees providing data on four knowledge management dimensions. After Confirmatory Factor Analysis was performed, the test of configural invariance, the test of equality of factor loadings, the test of equality of indicator interceptions, the test of error invariance, the test of equivalence of factor variances, the test of invariance of covariances between factors, and the test of equivalence of error covariances were carried out. Five fit indices were used.

Findings: Taken together, the results suggest that KMQ is a valid and reliable instrument in the context of local government, and could be regarded as invariant across employees from certified and non-certified municipalities.

Research limitations/implications: We cannot assume that the invariance is generalizable to other knowledge management instruments and other samples.

Practical implications: A reliable and valid instrument to measure knowledge management in organizations is available for practitioners use.

Originality/Value: The results support the use of the KMQ to test hypotheses focused on direct comparisons of knowledge management across the two groups, and to evaluate knowledge management in local authorities in the four dimensions.

 

Keywords: Measurement invariance; Knowledge Management Questionnaire; Local authorities; Quality certification.

 

 

[PT]

Título: "Invariância de medição do Questionário de Gestão do Conhecimento nas autoridades locais"

Resumo

Objetivos: Os objetivos desta pesquisa foram avaliar a validade e a confiabilidade do Questionário de Gestão do Conhecimento (KMQ) e verificar em que medida o significado da gestão do conhecimento é o mesmo para os trabalhadores em municípios portugueses certificados e não certificados de qualidade, usando a medição. testes de invariância.

Desenho/metodologia/abordagem: O KMQ foi aplicado a 972 funcionários, fornecendo dados sobre quatro dimensões da gestão do conhecimento. Após a análise fatorial confirmatória, o teste de invariância configural, o teste de igualdade de cargas fatoriais, o teste de igualdade de interceptações de indicadores, o teste de invariância de erro, o teste de equivalência de variações de fatores, o teste de invariância de covariâncias entre fatores e o teste de equivalência de covariâncias de erro. Foram utilizados cinco índices de ajuste.

Resultados: Em conjunto, os resultados sugerem que o KMQ é um instrumento válido e confiável no contexto do governo local e pode ser considerado invariável entre funcionários de municípios certificados e não certificados.

Limitações/implicações: Não podemos assumir que a invariância seja generalizável para outros instrumentos de gestão do conhecimento e outras amostras.

Implicações: Um instrumento confiável e válido para medir a gestão do conhecimento nas organizações está disponível para uso dos profissionais.

Originalidade/valor: Os resultados apóiam o uso do KMQ para testar hipóteses focadas em comparações diretas da gestão do conhecimento entre os dois grupos e para avaliar a gestão do conhecimento nas autoridades locais nas quatro dimensões.

 

Keywords: invariância da medida; Questionário de Gestão do Conhecimento; Autoridades locais; Certificação de qualidade.


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References


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European Journal of Applied Business and Management

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