The paper discusses how Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) use new Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and integrate them with organisational tools to support Knowledge Management (KM). Emerging approaches are classified and related to company and industry characteristics and their impact on performance is discussed. Evidence is based on a two years field research combining comparative case studies and survey methodology on a casual sample of 127 SMEs. Implications of this study are intended for both researcher and practitioner. From the theoretical point of view, the paper aims at contributing to the development of a contingent theory on KM in SMEs. From the practical point of view, SME managers will derive suggestions concerning the choice of Knowledge Management actions that better suit each specific context. ICT developers and vendors can also benefit from the results deriving implications on how to suit their offer to SMEs needs.
Knowledge Management Configurations in SMEs. Results of an Empyrical Analysis
MARTINI, ANTONELLA;PELLEGRINI, LUISA
2002-01-01
Abstract
The paper discusses how Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) use new Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and integrate them with organisational tools to support Knowledge Management (KM). Emerging approaches are classified and related to company and industry characteristics and their impact on performance is discussed. Evidence is based on a two years field research combining comparative case studies and survey methodology on a casual sample of 127 SMEs. Implications of this study are intended for both researcher and practitioner. From the theoretical point of view, the paper aims at contributing to the development of a contingent theory on KM in SMEs. From the practical point of view, SME managers will derive suggestions concerning the choice of Knowledge Management actions that better suit each specific context. ICT developers and vendors can also benefit from the results deriving implications on how to suit their offer to SMEs needs.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.