A systematic literature review on knowledge management in SMEs: current trends and future directions

Abstract

It is generally known that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are a significant driver of employment and economic growth for the majority of world economies. At the same time, SMEs are more fragile in times of crisis which in turn restricts their possibilities for action. In such an environment, it appears even more relevant for SMEs to consider knowledge and its management. Given that, it seems relevant to have an in-depth understanding of knowledge management (KM) in SMEs so that it can be better promoted. Therefore, this paper conducts a systematic literature review of the extant literature on KM in SMEs to present a state-of-the-art understanding. The review covers 180 papers from leading journals that have been published between 2012 and 2022. The review provides insight into the diversity and evolution of KM in SME research and evaluates the extant body of literature covered. Additionally, a framework is proposed that relates existing research on KM to SMEs. The paper concludes with proposals for future research on KM in SMEs.

Innovation Capability and Sustainable Performance Through Knowledge Management in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

“…RC is an important asset for enterprises with limited resources (Paoloni & Modaffari, 2022). In particular, SMEs rely on RC to enhance their internal innovation capabilities (Durst et al, 2022). Al-Jabri & Al-Busaidi (2018) have shown that knowledge transfer from outside the organization enhances internal learning because when external knowledge is acquired, it is often new and unknown to employees.…”

“…In the context of large enterprises, effective KM positively influences organizational competitiveness and innovation leading to improved organizational performance (OP) (Torabia & El-Den, 2017). However, KM in SMEs is still a new research area (Kurniawati et al, 2019;Durst et al, 2022). In particular, KM that combines both knowledge inside and outside the enterprise has not yet been discovered (Durst et al, 2022).…”

“…However, KM in SMEs is still a new research area (Kurniawati et al, 2019;Durst et al, 2022). In particular, KM that combines both knowledge inside and outside the enterprise has not yet been discovered (Durst et al, 2022). Is this viewpoint appropriate and correct in the context of SMEs?…”

KM Challenges in Small KIBS Companies: Multi-case Analysis in Two Countries

“…As mentioned earlier, the large majority of KIBS companies have a small or medium size and they face obstacles to managing knowledge, in part due to their limited resources, in part to the knowledge-intensive and intangible nature of their business processes and outputs. Research on KM in SMEs in general and KIBS in particular (Siahtiri et al, 2020;Durst et al, 2022;Zbuchea et al, 2023;Massaro et al, 2016;Shekhar & Valeri, 2023) suggests that these firms face different issues and often lack both dedicated approaches to KM and the necessary skills as well as competencies necessary to implement proper knowledge management (KM) processes. At the same time, these firms are exposed, more than others, to skill shortage and to risk related to environmental change, progressive digitalization, and increasing geopolitical risks.…”

“…The large majority of KIBS companies have a small and medium size (Zieba, 2021) and, while empirical evidence (Bolisani et al, 2022) proves that they are aware that knowledge is their most crucial resource, they manage it in a substantially informal and undeliberate way (Bolisani et al, 2016;Alexandru et al, 2020). In general small companies face several issues in knowledge management (Massaro et al, 2016;Durst et al, 2022;Shekhar & Valeri, 2023), largely due to their limited size which results in scarcity of human and financial resources, lack of time, and shortterm orientation. In the specific case of KIBS, they can encounter specific challenges, mainly due to the intangible and knowledge-intensive nature of their business processes and outcomes.…”