Purpose

Unintended consequences of knowledge management (KM) can be harmful if they are calamitous. However, they can occasionally be advantageous during catastrophes. The purpose of this study is to investigate how KM can be accidentally propitious during the COVID-19 pandemic using the case of Netflix.

Design/methodology/approach

Explanatory factor analysis, multilevel and multiple regressions were used with a sample of 45 countries.

Findings

In the authors’ sample, the hypothesized direct relationship between culture (i.e. individualism, power distance and indulgence) and collective pandemic resilience (CPR) was found. In addition, the hypothesized moderating effect of Netflix KM on the relationship between culture and CPR was partially confirmed. The findings suggest that KM during the pandemic can generate an unintended consequence of intensifying the degree of CPR.

Research limitations/implications

Small sample size, data paucity and the constructed variable of CPR might limit the generalizability of this study’s results. Nonetheless, one important research implication is that KM qua unintended consequences can have a significant moderating effect on the relationship between culture and resilience.

Practical implications

This paper highlights how organizations and society can cocreate the value of KM accidentally for the benefit of a larger public during calamities. Also, firms should proactively search for a wider application of their KM beyond their original intention.

Originality/value

This paper initiates a new discussion of positive consequences of unintended KM. Unlike individual-level studies of collective resilience in the past, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study generates country-level implications for the first time.

中文翻译：

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2021 年 COVID-19 大流行期间知识管理的意外后果：Netflix 的案例

目的

如果知识管理 (KM) 的意外后果是灾难性的，则可能是有害的。然而，它们偶尔会在灾难期间发挥作用。本研究的目的是使用 Netflix 的案例调查 KM 在 COVID-19 大流行期间如何意外地有利。

设计/方法/途径

对 45 个国家/地区的样本进行了解释性因素分析、多层次和多元回归分析。

发现

在作者的样本中，发现了文化（即个人主义、权力距离和放纵）与集体大流行病恢复力 (CPR) 之间假设的直接关系。此外，部分证实了 Netflix KM 对文化与 CPR 之间关系的假设调节作用。研究结果表明，大流行期间的 KM 会产生加强心肺复苏程度的意想不到的后果。

研究局限性/影响

样本量小、数据缺乏和 CPR 的构造变量可能会限制本研究结果的普遍性。尽管如此，一项重要的研究意义是，作为意外后果的知识管理可以对文化与复原力之间的关系产生显着的调节作用。

实际影响

本文重点介绍了组织和社会如何在灾难期间意外地为广大公众的利益共同创造知识管理的价值。此外，企业应积极寻求知识管理在其初衷之外的更广泛应用。

原创性/价值

本文发起了关于无意 KM 的积极后果的新讨论。与过去集体复原力的个人层面研究不同，据作者所知，这项研究首次产生了国家层面的影响。