137,640 research outputs found
Knowledge management, absorptive capacity and organisational culture: A case study from Chinese SMEs
Copyright © 2008 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final published article is available from the link below.Based on the analysis of an innovative medium sized enterprise from mainland China, this paper investigated the Knowledge Management (KM) issues by focusing on its KM enablers and process. This paper attempts to investigate how Chinese enterprises absorb knowledge from external sources; how they developed culture to facilitate Knowledge Management Processes (KMPs) and what major challenges they raise for the future by looking at the case study of a Chinese Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The case study indicates that Chinese enterprises emphasised knowledge acquisition and the capacities of knowledge absorption, application, creation, sharing and integration as vital to sustaining competitive advantage for these firms. Corporative organisational culture also has significant impact on the KM in those enterprises
Knowledge management in small and medium-sized enterprises
Purpose: The main purpose of the research presented in the article was to diagnose the „knowledge management” process in small and medium-sized enterprises in the Lower Silesia Province. In order to achieve this goal, the first part of the article explains the meaning of the term „knowledge management" in the scientific literature on management, and then, on the basis of research, an attempt was made to answer the following questions: which factors determining the „knowledge management” process and the tasks fulfilled by the management systems „knowledge management”. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study presented was based on the analysis of literature on the subject of knowledge management and competence. The study also included secondary sources, which were communications from research of similar scope. Triangulation of research methods has enabled to obtain a broader context of the studied phenomenon and ensured a higher quality of the conducted studies. The diversity of methods was aimed at achieving a consistency of the empirical basis for the inference. A diagnostic survey has been adopted as the leading method. Findings: The „knowledge management” in the global economy is a resource of strategic importance that affects the organisation's market value and provides a competitive advantage. The formation of a significant intellectual capital for an organisation requires the use of appropriate methods and tools supporting management, regular measurements, continuous comparison with competitors, elimination of barriers to knowledge sharing. Practical Implications: The research results are very interesting and encourage research on a larger scale. They are a valuable source of information for managers responsible for creating the intellectual capital of the organization in terms of acquiring and sharing knowledge. On the other hand, for people responsible for recruiting employees, the results may be useful in terms of developing a candidate's profile, in particular in identifying the key competences of knowledge workers. The results also show the demand of the Polish market (in particular medium-sized companies) for IT infrastructure. Originality/value: On the basis of empirical research, the article proposes an original set of system solutions in the field of „knowledge management” to improve the functioning of the organizations.peer-reviewe
The Analysis Of Problem And Threat Of Small And Medium-Sized Enterprizes In Northeast Thailand
The objectives of the study are: 1) to study the problems of small and medium-sized enterprises in the northeastern region of Thailand and 2) to analyze the problems of the operation and management of small and medium-sized enterprises in the northeastern region of Thailand. The researcher used a qualitative method with in-depth interviews of 30 entrepreneurs in small and medium-sized enterprises in northeast Thailand. In addition, content analysis was used to analyze this data. The researcher found five problems affecting SMEs in northeast Thailand: 1) public policy and government support, 2) financial support, 3) knowledge capital, 4) labor, and 5) marketing
Supply chain management in small and medium sized companies : opportunity or obstacle?
The purpose of this thesis is to establish how supply chain management expertise can be developed and embedded in a small and medium sized enterprise that will both enhance the efficiency of the existing business and create an additional business opportunity. In order to achieve this, the following aims have been set. A review of the latest academic literature concerning supply chain management and implementation of supply chain management in small and medium sized enterprises and the development of a framework of critical aspects for supply chain management implementation. In addition a case study of a two year knowledge transfer partnership between a company and a university has been conducted. From the case study it has been derived how supply chain management expertise can be developed and embedded in SMEs.For the methodology the action research and the case study approach have been chosen. The findings of the thesis confirm the characteristics and issues described in previous SME literature. Furthermore this two year study contributes to existing literature through in-depth understanding of the development process of supply chain management implementation in small and medium sized enterprises. In addition a holistic framework for supply chain management implementation in small and medium sized enterprises is provided, which also considers the importance of change and project management. In addition it is suggested that the solution should be tailored to the needs of a small and medium sized enterprise in order to correspond to time and resource constraints in small firms. Furthermore the thesis describes continuous improvement as a means for change management as well as for the embedment of collaboration in a small firm. Moreover it has been reconfirmed that also in small companies internal integration needs to be established before external integration and collaboration can take place.The value of this thesis lies in its attempt to establish how supply chain management in small and medium enterprises can be established through a knowledge transfer partnership with an external body (a university) and the development of a framework for implementation
Providing value to a business using a lightweight design system to support knowledge reuse by designers
This paper describes an alternative approach to knowledge based systems in engineering than traditional geometry or explicit knowledge focused systems. Past systems have supported product optimisation rather than creative solutions and provide little benefit to businesses for bespoke and low volume products or products which do not benefit from optimisation. The approach here addresses this by supporting the creativity of designers through codified tacit knowledge and encouraging knowledge reuse for bespoke product development, in particular for small to medium sized enterprises. The implementation and evaluation of the approach is described within a company producing bespoke fixtures and tooling in shorter than average lead times. The active support of knowledge management in the company is intended to add value to the business by further reducing the lead times of the designs and creating a positive impact to business processes. The evaluation demonstrates a viable alternative framework to the traditional management of knowledge in engineering, which could be implemented by other small to medium enterprises
Successful Strategies for Using Knowledge Management in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Knowledge management (KM) is vital for an organization to succeed in a highly dynamic and competitive world. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies that managers of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) use to effectively integrate KM into business practices. The study population comprised 5 managers from 2 SMEs operating in Uganda. The eligibility criteria for this study were that participants had to be from Ugandan SMEs with a knowledge-intensive environment, managers with some responsibility of KM in the organization, and experienced with at least 1 year of successful KM practices. The conceptual framework for this study was theory z. Data were collected through face-to-face, semistructured interviews and reviews of company documents. Member checking was completed to strengthen credibility and trustworthiness. After methodological triangulation of the data sources collected and completion of Yin\u27s 5-step process of data analysis, 5 themes emerged: having supportive leadership, ensuring sustainability, embedding KM practices in the organization culture, socialization, and embracing modern technology. The findings of this study might promote social change by supporting SME managers\u27 use of KM to expand opportunities for employees to learn new skills and knowledge leading to the expansion of employment opportunities
Knowledge management and intellectual capital in networks of small- and medium-sized enterprises
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose a theoretical-conceptual model supporting the analysis of the effects of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) networks on knowledge management (KM) and
intellectual capital (IC).
Design/methodology/approach – The paper reviews literature on KM, IC and networks theories. The role of SMEs networks on KM and IC was discussed, analysing previous studies that supported the proposition of
the model in question. In such model SMEs networks are seen as knowledge networks which are analysed in terms of the network formation process, the context, the strategy, the organisational culture and the stimuli for the sharing of knowledge. KM is observed in terms of knowledge creation, systematisation and sharing.
Finally, IC encompasses human capital, structural capital and relational capital. It is noteworthy that KM and IC were considered deeply and closely related.
Findings – The conclusions obtained help to fill an important gap in the management, accounting, KM and IC literature, showing that the processes of creating, acquiring, maintaining, systematising and sharing
information and knowledge and IC generation in SMEs networks can be influenced by the network formation process, by the organisational context, as well as by the strategy, organisational culture and stimuli to sharing knowledge.
Research limitations/implications – The paper provides a theoretical contribution by increasing understanding of the effect of SMEs networks on KM and IC practices – an understanding still at the early stages in the literature. Moreover, the originality of the model proposed extends the relevance of this research, as the literature does not contain a sufficiently established and tested approach that simultaneously provides
a clear view of the relations between SMEs, networks, KM and IC, highlighting how SMEs can use networks as a strategy to achieve a more effective management of the knowledge assets forming IC. So, the paper offers
several avenues for future research.
Practical implications – Based on previous empirical research, it was perceived that the original model presented in this paper is consistent, collaborating to improve management practice, providing a
competitive benchmarking process. This can allow analysts, managers and other decision makers, by using SMEs networks to improve organisational performance, innovation, sustainability, competitiveness
and value.
Originality/value – The paper presents an innovative theoretical-conceptual model focussed on the role of SMEs networks on KM and IC, indicating a strong link between the former and the latter in such enterprises
in terms of performance, innovation, sustainability, competitiveness and value, an issue whose understanding, although quite relevant, is still incipient in the literature
Current Approaches Regarding the Knowledge Management Impact on SMEs Performance
Managing knowledge is a critical capability for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to master because it helps them leverage their most critical resource. Organizational knowledge is the most salient resource at the disposal of SMEs in terms of availability, access, and depth. Successful SMEs are those who can leverage their knowledge in an effective and efficient manner, so as to make up for deficiencies in traditional resources, like land, labor, and capital. The purpose of this article is to identify the knowledge management impact on SMEs performance and to compare knowledge management in SMEs with knowledge management in large companies. The research discovered that SMEs do not manage knowledge the same way as larger organizations.knowledge management, performance, SMEs.
Building knowledge-based economies: research projects in knowledge management and knowledge transfer
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are viewed as the growth engines of the new knowledgebased
economy. This new economic growth model differs from the old in significant ways, many of which
are related to the knowledge base that will be required by the SMEs. Based upon prior research a set of
factors important to the success of SMEs in a knowledge-based economy is described. Focusing on those
factors related to the knowledge base, the paper concludes with a set of research questions and brief
descriptions of three research projects on knowledge management and knowledge transfer
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