Does Knowledge Management Deliver the Goods in SMEs?

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to review research on knowledge management‘s benefits within small and medium-sized firms. The paper attempts to answer the following research questions: 1) Which studies have been conducted that focus on the benefits of KM within SMEs? 2) What were the main findings of the studies? 3) In what manner does KM improve innovation, quality, productivity, and competitive standing? 4) Where were these studies conducted? and 5) Which methods were used. We propose an approach comprising a literature review in order to understand knowledge benefits for SMEs. The findings show that the benefits of knowledge management in small and medium-sized firms represent a poorly understood area of research. The reviewed studies highlight the benefits of knowledge management in the areas of employee development, innovation, customer satisfaction and organisational success. Further research is needed in this area.