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Knowledge management in small and medium enterprises: a structured literature review

Maurizio Massaro (Department of Economic Sciences and Statistics, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.)
Karen Handley (Department of Accounting and Corporate Governance, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.)
Carlo Bagnoli (Department of Management, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Venice, Italy.)
John Dumay (Department of Accounting and Corporate Governance, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.)

Journal of Knowledge Management

ISSN: 1367-3270

Article publication date: 4 April 2016

6136

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to review and critique the knowledge management (KM) literature within small and medium enterprises (SMEs), offers an overview of the state of research and outline a future research agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

Papers published in KM journals are analysed using a structured literature review methodology. The paper analyses 89 papers published in ten journals specialising in the field of KM.

Findings

KM within SMEs is a research area of growing importance. Findings show that literature on KM in SMEs is fragmented and dominated by unrelated research, with few comparative studies between countries and several countries receiving little attention. Additionally, different definitions of SMEs are used and different kinds of SMEs (e.g. micro, small and medium) are often treated as equivalent, making comparison almost impossible. The results show a failure to address the implications of findings for practitioners and policymakers, which risks relegating the KM research on SMEs to irrelevance.

Originality/value

The paper presents a comprehensive structured literature review of the articles published in KM journals. The paper’s findings can offer insights into future research avenues.

Keywords

Citation

Massaro, M., Handley, K., Bagnoli, C. and Dumay, J. (2016), "Knowledge management in small and medium enterprises: a structured literature review", Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 20 No. 2, pp. 258-291. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-08-2015-0320

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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