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The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of knowledge risk management (KRM) on organizational sustainability and the role of innovativeness and agility in this relationship.

The study presents the results of a quantitative survey performed among 179 professionals from knowledge-intensive organizations dealing with knowledge risks and their management in organizations. Data included in this study are from both private and public organizations located all over the world and were collected through an online survey.

The results have confirmed that innovativeness and agility positively impact the sustainability of organizations; agility also positively impacts organizational innovativeness. The partial influence of KRM on both innovativeness and agility of organizations has been confirmed as well.

The paper findings contribute in different ways to the ongoing debates in the literature. First, they contribute to the general study of risk management by showing empirically its role in organizations in the given case of organizational sustainability. Second, by emphasizing the risks related to knowledge, this study contributes to emerging efforts highlighting the particular role of knowledge for sustained organizational development. Third, by linking KRM and organizational sustainability, this paper contributes empirically to building knowledge in this very recent field of study. This understanding is also useful for future development in the field of KM as a whole.

The paper lays the ground for both a deeper and more nuanced understanding of knowledge risks in organizations in general and regarding sustainability in particular. As such, the paper offers new food for thought for researchers dealing with the topics of knowledge risks, knowledge management and organizational risk management in general.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the knowledge management (KM) approach followed by small companies. In particular, after introducing the notion of emergent approach, the paper aims to examine if that notion is useful to properly describe the way small businesses approach their KM activities.

The study is based on the results of a qualitative survey involving 12 owners and managers of small companies belonging to the knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) sector. The survey uses the case-study method.

The findings confirm that the approach to KM adopted by small companies can be defined as emergent: in the analysed cases, there were no formal KM plans, despite the fact that the examined companies have all introduced various KM practices. This shows that there can be the need to define KM approaches that better fit smaller companies.

Although an emergent approach may be seen as unplanned, companies should learn how to be aware of their KM practices and, once they are, how to develop them properly. For executives to be able to recognize emergent KM practices, notions and elements of KM need to be introduced in their business background and professional education (e.g. how KM fits into a small organization, what KM processes are, what KM tools and practices exist, etc.).

The study contributes to the understanding of KM in really small entities, still a much under-explored topic.

This paper aims to categorise the approaches to knowledge management (KM) by companies. In the literature, there is no consensus on a universal or “best” approach to KM. Especially, this paper singles out and discusses the variegated features that characterise the implementation of KM by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) having different characteristics.

A cluster analysis was used to detect the possible distinct traits of companies that have different approaches to KM. The unit of analysis is represented by small- and medium-sized knowledge intensive business services (KIBS) firms. Data were collected by means of an extensive survey of 223 companies in different European countries and sectors.

Three clusters were identified: Companies showing a relative “unconscious” attention to KM and implementing KM practices without particular awareness; Companies adopting a more conscious approach and using a significant number of KM practices; and companies with a marginal propensity towards KM.

This study considers only KIBS, and future research should include other economic sectors. In addition, a convenience sample was used.

This paper improves awareness of managers of small companies concerning different KM approaches that can be adopted. It highlights that a conscious adoption of a KM strategy involves the introduction of a set of consistent practices.

The topic of KM approaches by small companies is still underdeveloped in the literature. Also, the paper proposes a multi-contextual investigation that makes it possible to highlight the transversality of KM approaches across different countries or sectors.

This paper aims to explore the topic of client co-production in knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS). The paper first sketches a theoretical background and reviews previous studies on factors affecting successful client co-production in such companies and then examines these factors via case study research among a small KIBS company and its five customers.

The paper is based on an in-depth analysis of literature devoted to client co-production in KIBS firms and on the results of case studies analysis. The authors explore theoretically and empirically the perception of factors behind a successful client co-production process of a KIBS company from the point of view of both customers and service provider. The examination resulted in the clarification of what a successful client-KIBS firm cooperation should look like and what kind of actions KIBS firms should undertake to provide it.

As the analysis shows, to perceive client-KIBS firm cooperation as successful, customers desire on hand immediate effects that would justify and compensate their time and money investments (e.g. new clients or brand recognition) and on the other hand, some of them desire positive changes in longer-term, which tangible form is associated with the newly obtained knowledge and more importantly, freshly developed and written strategy. Among the factors that influence the co-production process one can list teamwork, trust, communication and knowledge flows.

Research results are limited to one KIBS company operating in Poland and its five customers. As such, they are not conclusive for the whole KIBS sector. The findings of both literature review and case study analysis indicate that there are several outcomes that are expected from the point of view of a KIBS customer when selecting the service of a KIBS company. The paper examines important aspect of service co-production and provides practical guidelines how cooperation between KIBS firms and their customers should look like.

The paper examines the relationship between a client and a KIBS company and explores the factors influencing the successful outcome of this relation. The paper provides guidelines on how this type of relation should be handled by managers or owners of KIBS firms.

The paper contributes to the literature on KIBS firms, especially in the scarce area of practical mechanics of their cooperation with customers. The paper also suggests further research possibilities in this area.

Modern cutting fluids often are real aqueous solutions of chemical compounds. That form of cutting fluid is simpler in preparation, as compared to emulsions and microemulsions. The water base is a good cooling medium of high‐ecological value. The purpose of this paper is to discover water‐soluble additives that could improve the lubricity of water.

Three cationic surfactants were chosen to be analyzed. Their tribological properties were verified using two testers: T0‐2 (four‐ball machine) and T‐11 (ball‐on‐disk). The results of the tests performed using friction couples made of steel (T0‐2, T‐11) and steel‐ceramics (T‐11) were satisfactory.

The friction coefficients and wear scar diameters are even a few times smaller, as compared to the ones measured in a water environment.

The paper demonstrates that the crucial role in improvement of the tribological properties is played by the surface activity of the additives (confirmed by the measurements of the surface tension and wetting angle). As the cationic surfactants are bactericidal and anti‐corrosive, they can be classified as multi‐purpose additives modifying water lubricity.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the demand and to estimate the willingness to pay for sustainable (certified) office space in Poland.

Due to limited data on sustainable property performance in Poland, the research is based on stated-preference data. The main research tool is conjoint experiment, run on a sample of office tenants in Krakow.

Highest utility for office tenants in Poland is linked to BREEAM certificate (highest willingness to pay for having BREEAM certified office space. Slightly lower propensity to pay was observed for LEED certificate. The lowest willingness to pay was estimated for DGNB certificate. One of possible explanations is connected to tenants awareness (BREEAM is the most common certificate in Poland).

The research results suggest increasing demand for sustainable office space in Poland, reflected by willingness to pay for sustainable office space. The main limitations of the research are twofold: geographical limitation (only one city) and hypothetical nature of choices made by tenants in the quasi-experiment.

The results of the research can justify the engagement of investors in sustainable property development in Poland and foster the development of this respective sector.

The paper is unique as it explores the potential for sustainable property development in emerging economies, which is not a common area of scientific interest mainly due to data availability. Traditionally most research focusses on mature markets in North America, and Western Europe, and empirical evidence from less developed markets is scarce. Few papers (if any) use quasi-experimental setting to elicit implicit price of ecological certificates.