The effect of knowledge management capability and customer knowledge gaps on corporate performance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of knowledge management capability (KMC) and customer knowledge gaps (CKG) on corporate performance, as well as proposing concrete suggestions for filling CKG and enhancing corporate performance. Design/methodology/approach – In order to explore on KMC, CKG, and corporate performance, the questionnaire and partial least square (PLS) techniques were used. Findings – The results showed that KMC is the major factor for enhancing corporate performance, and suggested CKG to be a significant intervening factor between KMC and corporate performance. Research limitations/implications – This research applied a purposive sampling method and obtained a slightly inadequate number of respondents. Therefore, it is suggested that future research should apply a random sampling method to collect more responses and increase the generalizability of the findings. Practical implications – Firms should apply their KMC to gather knowledge for, from and about customers to decrease CKG and enhance their relationship with customers as well as improve corporate performance. Originality/value – Developing a method by which to apply KMC in order to bridge CKG and to enhance corporate performance has become a significant issue. However, a holistic picture among KMC, CKG, and corporate performance has yet to emerge. This study thus applies a questionnaire survey method to explore the influence of KMC and CKG on corporate performance. Based on the results, specific recommendations are provided for enterprises planning to enhance their corporate performance in the future.