The Balanced Scorecard as a Knowledge Management Tool: A French Experience in a Semi-Public Insurance Company

Abstract

This paper presents the Balanced Scorecard, a strategic control tool, which is quite famous globally. Its principle objective is to articulate the planning and control decisions. The Strategic Control and the Agency Theories constitute the foundation of this tool. But, in Northern Europe, some specific Balanced Scorecards have been designed to work within the Knowledge Management Theory framework, which needs a sophisticated information system support. Using two theoretical backgrounds - the Strategic Control approach and Knowledge Management Theory - the relevance of the Balanced Scorecard is analyzed. More particularly, the French situation is presented; to begin with, the French managers believe that the Balanced Scorecard is a relevant management instrument to drive the firm's objectives. The paper then takes a closer look at the Balanced Scorecard of a semi-public French insurance company.