Conflict Management Styles and Knowledge Management Cycle Categories: Theoretical Analysis with Application

Pedro Soares de Mello, Eduardo Tomé, Andrew Hatch, Elizaveta Gromova — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between conflict management styles and knowledge management cycle categories. This question is relevant because it is important to verify whether the way organizations and groups manage knowledge is related to the way they manage conflict and relationships. The research is based on theories of conflict management (Deutsch, 1980), and knowledge management (Nonaka and Takeuchi, 1995). The relationship is measured through a quantitative study, using confirmatory factor analysis, on two already validated scales. The sample was composed by 381 respondents and we validated 330 questionnaires. We had two main hypothesis exploring the biunivocal relation between types of knowledge management and types of conflict management. We used four types of knowledge management, namely Capturing, Organizing, Refining and Transferring. We used five types of Conflict Management namely Collaborating, Accommodating, Compromising, Competing and Avoiding. All the nine scales were submitted to validation. Refining and Transferring were not validated. After factorial analysis we conclude that the KM cycle is indeed related to conflict management, and in particular, more integrative ways of managing conflict are related to a higher level of knowledge-management-related activities. This finding reinforces the notion that KM is based on dialogue, as put forward by Nonaka’s concept of Ba (Nonaka and Konno, 1998). The study is original because KM and Conflict Management are two fields which have not so far been linked and studied together The study is limited in that the sample was composed of a small number of individuals; confirmation of the results is needed using a larger sample.

Knowledge Management, Green Innovation and Business Performance: A Bibliometric and Content Review

Thu Ha Cao, Tien Thuan Luu — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This article reviews research on knowledge management, green innovation and business performance and responds to a fragmented literature in which the three concepts have developed mainly through bilateral streams. Drawing on the resource-based view, knowledge-based view, absorptive capacity theory and natural-resource-based view, the review interprets knowledge management as a strategic knowledge capability, green innovation as a possible bridge through which knowledge is translated into environmentally oriented action, and business performance as a multidimensional outcome. Bibliographic records were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection for 2016-2025 and restricted to English-language journal articles. Four parallel searches identified 211 records on knowledge management - green innovation, 1,431 on knowledge management - business performance and 1,007 on green innovation - business performance, while an independent integrated query identified 60 records addressing all three domains. The 60-record dataset was analysed in VOSviewer for country, publication-source, cited-source and author-keyword patterns and was interpreted through structured content synthesis. The integrated domain remains dispersed across countries, journals and themes. China, Spain and Pakistan are the most visible author-affiliation countries; the Journal of Knowledge Management, Business Process Management Journal and Business Strategy and the Environment are prominent publication sources; and knowledge management, green innovation, sustainability and firm performance form the thematic core. Three research streams are identified: knowledge management as a basis for innovation and organisational capability, green innovation as a source of performance and sustainability outcomes, and an emerging integrated knowledge management - green innovation - business performance stream. Evidence for the complete pathway remains heterogeneous, so green innovation is interpreted as a plausible, context-dependent bridge rather than a universal mediator. The study contrasts the large bilateral literatures with the smaller integrated domain and connects bibliometric patterns with conceptual flows and performance-measurement issues. The review is limited to Web of Science, English-language journal articles and a 2016-2025 window with partial 2025 coverage; its conceptual synthesis is author-developed and does not test causal relationships.

Electronic Journal of Knowledge Management

Conflict Management Styles and Knowledge Management Cycle Categories: Theoretical Analysis with Application

Knowledge Management, Green Innovation and Business Performance: A Bibliometric and Content Review