Knowledge Management Strategy of a Franchise Business : The Case of a Paris Baguette Bakery

프랜차이즈 기업의 지식경영 전략 : 파리바게뜨 사례를 중심으로

It is widely known that knowledge management plays a facilitating role that contributes to upgrading organizational performance. Knowledge management systems (KMS), especially, support the knowledge management process including the sharing, creating, and using of knowledge within a company, and maximize the value of knowledge resources within an organization. Despite this widely held belief, there are few studies that describe how companies actually develop, share, and practice their knowledge. Companies in the domestic small franchise sector, which are in the early stages in terms of knowledge management, need to improve their KMS to manage their franchisees effectively. From this perspective, this study uses a qualitative approach to explore the actual process of knowledge management implementation. This article presents a case study of PB (Paris Baguette) company, which is the first to build a KMS in the franchise industry. The study was able to confirm the following facts through the analysis of target companies. First, the chief executive's support is a critical success factor and this support can increase the participation of organization members. Second, it is important to build a process and culture that actively creates and leverages information in knowledge management activities. The organizational learning culture should be one where the creation, learning, and sharing of new knowledge is developed continuously. Third, a horizontal network organization is needed in order to make relationships within the organization more close-knit. Fourth, in order to connect the diverse processes such as knowledge acquisition, storage, and utilization of knowledge management activities, information technology (IT) capabilities are essential. Indeed, IT can be a powerful tool for improving the quality of work and maximizing the spread and use of knowledge. However, during the construction of an intranet based KMS, research is required to ensure that the most efficient system is implemented. Finally, proper evaluation and compensation are important success factors. In order to develop knowledge workers, an appropriate program of promotion and compensation should be established. Also, building members' confidence in the benefits of knowledge management should be an ongoing activity. The company developed its original KMS to achieve a flexible and proactive organization, and a new KMS to improve organizational and personal capabilities. The PB case shows that there are differences between participants perceptions and actual performance in managing knowledge; that knowledge management is not a matter of formality but a paradigm that assures the sharing of knowledge; and that IT boosts communication skills, thus creating a mutual relationship to enhance the flow of knowledge and information between people. Knowledge management for building organizational capabilities can be successful when considering its focus and ways to increase its acceptance. This study suggests guidelines for major factors that corporate executives of domestic franchises should consider to improve knowledge management and the higher operating activities that can be used.

기업에 경쟁우위를 가져다주는 많은 자원들 중에서 특히 지식(knowledge)은 생산 활동을 위해 다른 자원을 변화시키거나 확보할 수 있도록 만드는 중요한 자원으로 알려져 있다. 이러한 조직 내 지식은 다양한 형태로 존재하고, 다양한 장소나 개인에게 산재해 있기 때문에, 이를 통합하고 체계적으로 활용하기 위한 기업의 전사적 관리 활동이 필요하다. 특히 지식관리시스템(KMS: knowledge management systems)은 조직 내 지식을 창조하고, 공유하고, 적절히 사용함으로써 지식관리 프로세스를 지원하고 조직이 가진 지식자원의 가치를 극대화하여 기업의 학습조직화와 성과 증진을 이끌 수 있다. 이에 본 연구는 국내 대표적인 프랜차이즈 기업인 파리바게뜨의 성공적인 지식관리시스템운영 사례를 분석하여 프랜차이즈 기업들의 지식경영을 강화 및 지식관리시스템(KMS) 구축과 개선을 위한 구체적인 시사점을 제안하고자 하였다. 결과적으로 최고경영층의 관심과 지원, 능동적인 지식 공유와 활용을 위한 학습조직 문화, 네트워크 활성화를 통한 지식의 변환, 정보기술, 지식경영의 내재화를 위한 촉진제도와 보상이라는 5가지 주요 요인이 프랜차이즈 기업의 지식관리시스템의 성공적 운영을 위해 반드시 고려되어야 하는 요인임을 밝혀낼 수 있었다.