STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF KNOWLEDGE: A STUDY OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND ENTREPRENEURIAL STRATEGY IN THE LARGEST COMPANIES OF THE STATE OF CEARÁ

Abstract

The industrial society has gone through changes that brought about the knowledge society, where knowledge is seen as an asset of organizations. Interest in the subject originated from its being a rising theme, compatible both with present reality and future prospects of organizations. The goal of the research is to verify the relationship between the existence of knowledge management practices and strategic posture in the largest companies of Ceará. Bibliographic research and surveys with a descriptive approach were adopted. Data collection was made through structured interviews with companies’ managers using questionnaires and electronic survey via Internet. The research was conducted in 2002 in the largest companies of the state of Ceará, according to the 2001 Annual Balance Sheet of Gazeta Mercantil. Intentional non-probalistic sampling was performed where 37 companies participated. Data analysis included all 37 companies, the two that implemented the knowledge management and the five that are in implementation process. It is inferred that the relationship between knowledge management and strategic posture occurs in the sampling companies when the company starts from maintenance, stepping on to growth and development.