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Knowledge management in small enterprises

David Lim (David Lim is an Accounts Executive, Leo Burnett Singapore, Singapore.)
Jane Klobas (Jane Klobas is Associate Professor, Information & Media, Curtin University of Technology, Subiaco, Western Australia.)

The Electronic Library

ISSN: 0264-0473

Article publication date: 1 December 2000

5841

Abstract

This paper investigates the extent to which six factors drawn from the theory and practice of knowledge management can be applied in small organisations. The factors are: balance between need and cost of knowledge acquisition; the extent to which knowledge originates in the external environment; internal knowledge processing; internal knowledge storage; use and deployment of knowledge within the organisation; and attention to human resources. Three cases demonstrate that the fundamental concepts and principles of knowledge management are similar for small and large organisations. Differences include the value placed on systematic knowledge management practices such as formalised environmental scanning and computer‐based knowledge sharing systems. Consultants, and library and information professionals, are advised to understand the organisation’s management and communication culture; emphasise simple and inexpensive systems integrated into everyday practice; and establish and monitor adherence to tools such as records management schedules. Information professionals can contribute much by managing systems which use vocabularies to enhance information retrieval for knowledge sharing.

Keywords

Citation

Lim, D. and Klobas, J. (2000), "Knowledge management in small enterprises", The Electronic Library, Vol. 18 No. 6, pp. 420-433. https://doi.org/10.1108/02640470010361178

Publisher

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MCB UP Ltd

Copyright © 2000, MCB UP Limited

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