Knowledge management in a steel company : a case study of the Gerdau Group

Abstract

Knowledge Management has become part of the business strategy of many corporations all over the world. Their ability to manage and take advantage of their intellectual assets is providing them with and sustaining their competitive advantage. This thesis assesses the Knowledge Management System implemented in a steel company: The Gerdau Group. A literature review, combined with a survey administered to users of the system in the company, provide insights to evaluate to what degree the company is succeeding in achieving its goal: capturing and disseminating technical knowledge among employees from different sites. My evaluation does not examine the software used to manage the system, but rather focuses on the strategic and practical aspects of the knowledge management process. From these materials, I develop a set of recommendations to assist Gerdau in enhancing the quality of its knowledge sharing process.