The Relationship between Knowledge and Green Logistics. A Theoretical Approach

Abstract

We present a research about the widely accepted knowledge management modes and their interaction with important and fresh processes for the company as the reverse logistics activities, commonly called “green logistics”. Knowledge is an important intangible resource for any area of the organization, especially in the case of logistics of products that are returned to organization because it implies a huge uncertainty and costs. Returns are increasing for the companies due to new customer policies, new and higher environmental laws and because recovering of discarded materials suppose a new low cost source of raw material. The relationship between both areas establishes new and positive effects on flexibility and performance of the organization. Due to the complexity and extension of this research we have divided it in two papers. Thus, this first article have shown a theoretical approach regarding how the modes of knowledge conversion, specifically the creation of knowledge, affect reverse logistics, and it analyses new relations between these variables and their joint influence on the flexibility of distribution of information (because information has a key role for these variables) and performance of the organization. A second paper will show the empirical contrast for these constructs.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ee.24.3.3312