Managing knowledge through social media

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to conceptualise social media usage (SMU) as a contributory, knowledge management (KM) tool towards entrepreneurial behaviour amongst small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Although an underdeveloped concept in entrepreneurship, the conceptual analysis of KM presents evidence which links SMU as complementary to changing KM conventions. Design/methodology/approach The pertinent KM and SMU literatures of the SME context were reviewed to form an understanding of this context. Employing a mixed-methods approach, a pragmatic, thematic investigation of SMU-enhanced KM was facilitated. Findings Substantial benefits of innovative SMU, as a management tool towards SME entrepreneurialism, were witnessed. SMU enhances the administration of real-time knowledge, encouraging creativity. However, longer-term costs of employing requisite personnel, and anticipated organisational restructuring, present challenges. The paper identifies the potentials of social media technologies in overcoming KM issues. The authors propose a reasoned process model towards entrepreneurial exploitation by acknowledging systematic phases of research, concept, institutionalise, develop, target and assess, referred to as the RCIDTA model. Practical implications The authors argue that KM, through social media, facilitates interactions to execute innovative processes within SMEs ever-changing infrastructures. It also informs nascent entrepreneurs, in considering the benefits of systematic KM, and novel SMU, opportunities. The RCIDTA model for SMEs can be utilised in improving knowledge ecosystems of entrepreneurial SMEs, promoting innovation towards sustained organisation growth. Originality/value This paper embraces the growing approach of SMEs applying SMU. SMU and its cost efficiency support the start-up activity. This paper highlights central issues concerning the exploitation of sector-specific KM, including organisational strategy, structure, brand formation, fiscal and personnel resource allocation and market share.

Influence of Social Media Usage on the Green Product Innovation of Manufacturing Firms through Environmental Collaboration

“…In addition, firms that are implementing a dynamic environmental management strategy should always endeavour to obtain the most up-to-date information and share that information so that they can be more responsive to environmental issues [87]. However, in order to ensure that information from online sources is truly suitable for adoption, the information must first be evaluated and discussed with the firm's internal influencers before it can be exploited to achieve strategic goals [1]. Therefore, the presence of IEC is required to ensure that discussions and that decision making are optimal so as to improve GPI.…”

“…The need to support green growth and adhere to environmental regulations is increasingly compelling manufacturing firms to be more proactive in finding new information that can assist in improving their green practices and developing green products. As such, firms increasingly appreciate and seek to take effective advantage of the benefits of social media because it can be the best platform through which to disseminate information [1,2] and exchange information to gain new insights and additional knowledge [3]. Social media-which is defined here as encompassing social networking sites, microblogs, image and video-sharing applications, and collaborative websites-is increasingly attracting research interest globally because of its powerful and widespread impact on social interaction [4].…”

Linking firm characteristics to perceived important social factors for entrepreneurial activity

“…Both media and family environments can motivate adults to get actions towards startup activities (Brixiová & Égert, 2012;Crammond et al, 2018;Park et al, 2017;Sheng & Lan, 2019). Low levels of the social environment can reduce investment attractiveness of regions (Viturka et al, 2013).…”

Differences in the usage of online marketing and social media tools: evidence from Czech, Slovakian and Hungarian SMEs

“…Social media platforms are also called "user-generated communication" (Yaseen et al, 2019;Odoom et al, 2017;Michaelidou et al, 2011) and social networks and marketing activities of firms via those networks are defined as social network marketing and technology-enabled marketing tools by some researchers (Kallier, 2017;Werdani & Djoko, 2018;Sangi et al, 2018). Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Messengers (Kallier, 2017;Werdani & Djoko, 2018;Sangi et al, 2018), Google, Youtube (Crammond et al, 2018), LinkedIn (Abed et al, 2016;Taiminen & Karjaluoto, 2015), Pinterest (Taiminen & Karjaluoto, 2015) are some examples of social network marketing channels that businesses use.…”