ZLV Online

Abstract

An effective, well-established process of knowledge sharing between current employees and former employees plays an important role in today’s highly competitive environment, supporting innovation of the companies. The aim of this article is to evaluate whether forestry companies are focusing on innovation, knowledge continuity for retaining employee knowledge, identifying sources from which forestry companies most often receive the impulse to innovate, and assessing the possibilities for further innovation development and knowledge continuity in forestry companies in the Czech Republic. The survey was conducted through a questionnaire survey (n = 85). The obtained primary data were processed using a Chi-square test and multi-dimensional statistics (factor analysis). The results show that more than three-quarters of the forestry companies involved consider that it is important to apply innovation for their business. The remainder of the forestry companies said that innovation is not important to them and emphasises traditions instead. The quality of work, productivity and working processes are most often innovated. Impulses mostly come from customers, employees, competitors and experts. Although more than half of the forestry companies supports knowledge sharing, more than 70% of them said that the potential loss of key knowledge would not be jeopardized. With respect to the results, we can say it is necessary to support innovations and ensure knowledge continuity, these are key factors in increasing performance and competitiveness in the market. For more information see Summary at the end of the article.