Knowledge management systems: the hallmark of SMEs

This paper provides an overview of the knowledge management systems (KMSs) adopted by small and medium enterprises (SMEs). KMSs are divided into two categories: knowledge management tools (KM-Tools) and knowledge management practices (KM-Practices). On the basis of the analysis of the literature, two research questions (RQs) were identified and addressed through semi-structured interviews carried out in a sample of 35 SMEs operating in high-tech industries. The first RQ concerns the degree of adoption of KMSs by SMEs. The second RQ regards the relationship between KM-Tools and KM-Practices. As far as the degree of adoption of KMSs, the paper highlights that SMEs are not a homogeneous world but there are a variety of approaches and behaviours. As far as the relationship between the degree of adoption of KM-Tools and KM-Practices, the paper identifies three groups of SMEs that seem to point out the stages of the process of adoption of KMSs: Introduction, SMEs that deal with the process of knowledge management exploiting practices and tools that are already known; Growth, SMEs that adopt specialist practices of knowledge management acquiring new organisational and managerial competence in the field of knowledge management; Maturity, SMEs that invest in new technology and that acquire new technological competence in the field of knowledge management. This categorisation paves the way for further theoretical and practical implications for both managers and policy makers.     

Knowledge management in SMEs: the case of Icelandic firms

This paper presents findings from a survey on knowledge management (KM) in small- and medium-sized firms (SMEs) in Iceland. It analyses the extent, strategy and effects of KM. The results indicate that more managers in SMEs need to consider the strengths and weaknesses of KM, and implement a formal KM strategy. Only 24% of Icelandic firms have a KM programme in place, and most of them have invested in simple information and communication technology technologies. The most common way of sharing tacit knowledge in Icelandic firms is encouraging face-to-face communication. The survey indicates that the benefits of KM programmes are quite positive even in SMEs. Accordingly, the research findings indicate that KM could improve organisational and managerial as well as financial aspects of SMEs. This research was carried out in only one country, and is based on a questionnaire. Its results should therefore be interpreted with care.     

知识管理与我国制造业的整合应用

知识经济的到来,对我国制造业来说,是机遇,更是挑战。本文针对当前我国制造业中实行的几种制造模式存在的问题,指出只有进行知识管理才能以最小的投入获取最大的收益,才能加速我国制造业的创新,为我国制造业带来新的生命力,并对制造业各个环节中如何进行知识管理作了详细分析,最后设计了一个全面解决方案,为我国制造业的发展道路,作了有益的探讨。     

离散制造业的产品开发知识管理研究

首先从离散制造业以产品为核心的特点出发,探讨其产品开发过程和知识管理的密切关系及应用现状;接着,对产品开发过程所涉及的知识进行分类和建模,建立了针对离散制造业特点的产品开发知识模型;最后,提出了面向离散制造业产品开发的知识管理框架,以不断提升其知识管理水平。     

中小企业的环境战略选择及其公共政策涵义

中小企业是经济增长和社会就业的重要推动力量,但同时它们的生产过程也产生了大量的环境污染。公共行政管理机构正在开始表现出对中小企业环境活动的关注,因为它们已经意识到了这种活动对社会所产生的影响。     

Knowledge management: a neuro-hemispherical view of the field

Knowledge Management Research & Practice - The definition and subsequent use of knowledge within and across organisational and social contexts has been a vibrant and evolving growth area over...     

Knowledge management for services,operations and manufacturing

Knowledge Management Research & Practice -     

On the relationship between environmental management, environmental innovation and patenting: Evidence from German manufacturing firms

This paper analyses empirically the relationship between environmental innovations, environmental management and patenting. In particular it tests a number of propositions on how environmental management systems and the interaction with environmentally more or less concerned stakeholders are associated with the probability of firms to pursue innovation in general (measured as patenting behaviour) and specifically environmental innovation (measured based on firm self-assessment and through patent data). In applying a negative binomial as well as binary discrete choice models the relationship is studied using data on German manufacturing firms. As a novel and important insight, the study finds that environmental innovation can be meaningfully identified using patent data and that environmental innovation defined this way is less ubiquitous than self-reported environmental innovation. It also reveals that the implementation level of environmental management systems has a positive effect exclusively on environmental process innovation, whereas it is negatively associated with the level of a firms’ general patenting activities. For environmental product innovation and patented environmental innovations a positive relationship with environmentally concerned and a negative link with environmentally neutral stakeholders is found.     

以产学研联合实现中小企业的知识引进与吸收

产学研合作对于中小企业来说具有与大型企业同等的重要性.然而,鉴于规模小、资金实力弱、政策支持不足等因素,中小企业参与产学研合作的现状并不乐观.本文从分析影响中小企业与科研机构互动的因素入手,考察了发达国家促进中小企业参与产学研合作的相关做法,介绍了我国和广东省中小企业参与产学研合作的现状,并阐述了广东省政府完善中小企业参与产学研合作的必要性.     

A literature review on knowledge management in SMEs

This paper provides a systematic review of the literature on knowledge management (KM) in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and SME networks. The main objective is to highlight the state-of-the-art of KM from the management point of view in order to identify relevant research gaps. The review highlights that in recent years the trend of papers on the topic is growing and involves a variety of approaches, methodologies and models from different research areas. The vast majority of papers analysed focus on the topic of KM in the SME while there are only few papers analysing KM in networks populated by SMEs. The content analysis of the papers highlights six areas of investigation from which were derived ten research questions concerning three perspectives: the factors affecting KM; the impact of KM on firm’s performance; the knowledge management systems.     

供应商管理过程中的知识管理

指出供应商管理中的知识管理研究是目前供应商管理研究领域的最新课题,阐明供应商管理中知识管理的核心内涵以及对现实的指导意义。在前人研究成果的基础上,给出供应商管理过程的5个阶段;并根据供应商管理的整个过程,分析供应商管理各阶段知识的特性及其获取、转移和扩散。     

Antecedents and trajectories of AMT adoption: The case of Greek manufacturing SMEs

This study examines antecedents and trajectories of advanced manufacturing technology (AMT) adoption in three categories: stand-alone, intermediate, and integrated technologies. Antecedents of adoption include prior investments in AMT, developments in firms’ manufacturing capabilities, technology strategy, absorptive capacity, and environmental pressures. Based on a sample of 87 Greek manufacturing SMEs, we find that AMT adoption follows an incremental, piecemeal progression from the least complicated through intermediate to integrated technologies. It is found that an increase in the firms’ quality and flexibility capabilities induces them to adopt further AMT, whereas advances in low-cost, innovation, and delivery capabilities appear negatively related to further AMT adoption. Absorptive capacity, technology strategy and environmental pressures play a central role in decisions for additional investments in AMT. In the context of a catching-up economy, these results support the notion of a ‘stepwise’ technology accumulation process as well as ‘satisficing’ technological change.     

Spurring sustainability commitment strategy of family-owned SMEs: A multi-analytical SEM & ANFIS perspective

The study seeks to understand the impact of leadership styles on the organizational strategy of sustainability commitment, utilizing the mediator role of employees' eco-friendly practices in family firms in Malaysia. To achieve this aim, dual-stage structural equation modeling (SEM) and neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) were employed to analyze the leadership style of Malaysian family firms. This study collects empirical data from 427 employees belonging to Malaysian family firms via a structured questionnaire. Results demonstrate supportive, authentic, and paternalistic leadership styles affect the sustainability commitment strategy of organizations. Moreover, employees' eco-friendly best practices fully mediate the link between leadership styles and the organizational strategy of sustainability commitment. Findings of non-compensatory relationships also indicated employees' eco-friendly best practices is the most determinant of the strategy of sustainability commitment, followed by authentic leadership, supportive leadership, and paternalistic leadership.     

知识供应链中高校与中小企业的利益分配研究

分析了知识供应链不同于普通供应链的特点,并且对企业与高校,高校与高校两个层次的利益分配机制进行了经济学分析,力求为我国的中小企业发展指出一条新的发展之路     

基于关系营销观点的企业知识产权管理

本文提出知识基础及其在环境中的网络关系是决定企业未来的重要因素,通过确认知识价值所在的市场关系可以找到使之增值的方式,所以企业可以运用关系营销中信任、承诺和满意的观点来管理企业的知识产权,向顾客、其他企业、现在的及未来的商业伙伴行销自己的知识基础,减少企业外部知识产权冲突,实现企业知识产权价值最大化,同时有利于企业知识基础的长期发展。     

Classification of different knowledge management development approaches of SMEs

There is established evidence to suggest that small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face different knowledge management (KM) challenges to larger firms. There is emerging theory and practice concerning KM in SMEs as a whole. SMEs may not, however, be an homogeneous group when addressing KM. The study's objective was to investigate whether there are different approaches towards KM development within SMEs. The responses of 33 SMEs to a 60-item structured analysis of KM practices were analysed using hierarchical cluster analysis, ANOVA and post hoc multiple comparisons of means. Four distinct configurations of practices were identified. These were the KM practices of ‘unengaged’ businesses, ‘comprehensive KM practice’ businesses, ‘knowledge-ownership oriented’ businesses and ‘learning and co-production oriented’ businesses. These different groups of SMEs appear to approach KM in fundamentally different ways. The categorisation provides a useful framework for addressing the take-up of KM initiatives in SMEs.     

产品开发中的知识管理

结合知识管理的原则，讨论企业在产品开发过程中，应根据所开发产品的特点，形成与自身能力相适应的产品开发流程体系。这一体系使产品开发过程随着市场需求变化得到及时调整，在满足客户需求的情况下，迅速、准确、高质量地推出新产品。     

制造企业中的知识管理问题研究

针对制造企业中知识管理问题,以航空制造企业为例给出了制造企业知识管理应用的基本过程,分析了在制造企业中的实施知识管理时的知识需求和知识构成等问题。这些问题的研究对企业制定知识管理策略、成功实施知识管理有重要作用,对制造企业特别是航空制造企业实施知识管理有普遍适用性。最后对制造企业中实施知识管理提出了实施策略和建议。     

Knowledge management in SME networks

The objective of this paper is to investigate the role of knowledge management (KM) in networks participated by small firms. To achieve this objective, the literature on KM in small firms has been reviewed. A research question has been defined and addressed through a questionnaire survey conducted in a small firms network. The findings indicate that the surveyed companies perceive the strategic value of KM and adopt several systems even if its adoption is constrained by a number of barriers. The results suggest that firms investigated need to adopt advanced KM systems to manage knowledge more effectively at network level. The evidences also indicate that the surveyed firms are willing to adopt a platform supporting the sharing and exchange of knowledge in the network with a positive impact on innovation processes and the exploitation of market opportunities. The paper outlines some managerial implications as well as avenues for further research.     

论供应链管理中的系统观

从八个方面论述了供应链管理中的系统观,明确提出并论证了在供应链管理中应以系统思想为指导的观点。