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Purpose -The objective of this paper is to further explore the emerging concept of personal knowledge management (PKM) and to bring researchers' attention to this notion. Specifically, this paper aims to address issues related to the effective utilisation of technology in PKM practices. Design/methodology/approach -A theoretical framework incorporating PKM skills, technology tools, user context and skills-tools fit is proposed. Arguments are built on the task-technology fit theory, which explores the link between technology tools and task characteristics (PKM skills). Findings -The impact of effective PKM will depend increasingly on skills-tools fit. Practical implications -The success of technology utilisation resides not simply in whether individuals use technology, but if this usage actually improves effectiveness. For their own benefit, individuals should consider and assess the technology tools in the context of how they will be aligned with specific PKM skills. Originality/value -Proposing a conceptual framework of PKM, this paper suggests that the core focus is individual inquest, that is, the effort to discover, share, learn and explore through combinations of technology and information skills. The importance of the user's context in the PKM process is also discussed

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Purpose -The goal is to examine the relationship between business process improvement initiatives (BPII), information systems (ISs) integration, and customer focus. Design/methodology/approach -The data for the study were collected at the divisional levels from a list of "Fortune 500" firms. A total of 1,100 questionnaires were mailed to divisional managers and 115 responses were used for the data analysis. Findings -The results of this study support the hypotheses that BPII directly affects customer responsiveness and product/service innovation. In addition, data integration and communication networks flexibility are found to significantly affect customer responsiveness and product/service innovation. Communication networks connectivity did not have any significant effect on customer responsiveness and product/service innovation, respectively. Data integration, intrafirm networks connectivity and networks flexibility are found to significantly mediate the relationship between BPII and customer responsiveness and BPII and product/service development, respectively. Interfirm networks connectivity was not found to significantly mediate the relationship between BPII and customer responsiveness and BPII and product/service development, respectively. Research limitations/implications -The sample consists of divisions of Fortune 500 firms. Second, the study is cross-sectional; therefore, it lacks the predictive power to find the long-term effects of BPII and IS integration on customer focus. A longitudinal study can be a future research endeavor to validate the results of the study. Originality/value -To business managers, the study clarifies the role of IS integration in customer focus.