Strategic Knowledge Management in SMEs: Critical Factors for Sustainable Innovation
Keywords:
knowledge management, SMEs, sustainable innovation, strategic leadership, grounded theory, organizational capabilities, territorial context, gestión del conocimiento, pymes, innovación sostenible, liderazgo estratégico, teoría fundamentada, capacidades organizacionales, contexto territorial
Abstract
Strategic knowledge management (SKM) has become a critical enabler for driving sustainable innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly in emerging economies where limited resources coexist with high-value tacit and contextual knowledge. This article presents the results of a qualitative study conducted with SME leaders across Colombia’s five regions, using Grounded Theory as the methodological framework. Based on 50 semi-structured interviews, four key categories were identified: (1) recognition of knowledge as a strategic asset, (2) enabling leadership and learning culture, (3) coexistence of formal and informal knowledge management practices, and (4) territorial conditions influencing innovation capacity. From these, the central construct of strategic knowledge awareness emerged, which underpins a theoretical model explaining how SMEs build sustainable innovation capabilities. The resulting model, visualized through a Nvivo-style hierarchical structure, provides a relational framework for organizational decision-making and the design of place-based enterprise development strategies.Downloads
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Cillo, V., Rialti, R., Bertoldi, B., & Ciampi, F. (2019). Knowledge management and open innovation in SMEs: A systematic literature review. Management Decision, 57(7), 1588–1615.
Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2011). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications.
Davenport, T. H., & Prusak, L. (1998). Working Knowledge: How Organizations Manage What They Know. Harvard Business Press.
Donate, M. J., & Sánchez de Pablo, J. D. (2015). The role of knowledge-oriented leadership in knowledge management practices and innovation. Journal of Business Research, 68(2), 360–370.
Durst, S., Foli, M., & Aggestam, L. (2023). Knowledge management in SMEs: A structured literature review. Journal of Knowledge Management, 27(1), 1–28. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-11-2021-0881
Glaser, B. G., & Strauss, A. L. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. Aldine.
Nonaka, I., & Takeuchi, H. (1995). The knowledge-creating company: How Japanese companies create the dynamics of innovation. Oxford University Press.
Schein, E. H. (2010). Organizational Culture and Leadership (4th ed.). Jossey-Bass.
Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1998). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications.
Wang, Z., Huo, B., Lai, X., & Zhang, Y. (2023). The influence of sustainable leadership on frugal innovation in SMEs: Evidence from China. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 188, 122329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.122329
Wiig, K. M. (1997). Knowledge management: An introduction and perspective. Journal of Knowledge Management, 1(1), 6–14. https://doi.org/10.1108/13673279710800682
Yukl, G. (2013). Leadership in Organizations (8th ed.). Pearson Education.
Zhang, M. J., & Jiang, Z. (2015). The impact of information technology capability on firm performance: The mediating roles of absorptive capacity and supply chain agility. International Journal of Production Research, 53(16), 4799–4816. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2014.961210
Published
2025-01-21
How to Cite
Marin Meza, A., & Patiño Quiceno, A. (2025). Strategic Knowledge Management in SMEs: Critical Factors for Sustainable Innovation. IJMSOR: International Journal of Management Science & Operation Research, 10(1), 113-126. Retrieved from https://ijmsoridi.com/index.php/ijmsor/article/view/139
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