Knowledge sharing, knowledge transfer and SMEs: evolution, antecedents, outcomes and directions

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to systematically synthesize the extant literature of knowledge sharing (KS) and knowledge transfer (KT) in the small and medium enterprise (SME) context and to contribute with predictions of emerging themes.

Design/methodology/approach: Applied is a systematic literature review using three bibliometric techniques: 1) Textual analysis for keywords and abstracts to identify the research hotspots; 2) Co-citation analysis of references to identify the evolution of KS and KT in SME; and 3) Bibliographic coupling analysis of documents to synthesize antecedents and outcomes.

Findings: A conceptual map emerges from the review to reveal the antecedents of KS and KT at individual, group, and organizational levels. The analysis shows the strategic importance of KS and KT for the SME context. Specific findings include: 1) KS and KT are involved in enhancing SMEs strategic focus for human resources including, organizational learning, customer relations, creativity, higher profit and positive effects on operational processes and decision-making. 2) Innovation, trust, and performance are identified as central human factors linked to KS and KT in SMEs. 3) Human resource management research could contribute to KS and KT in the SME domain by exploring KS and KT based practices, linking the emergence of innovation and innovative behaviors to these practices, leading to a better understanding of strategies that enable the long-term storage and retrieval of tacit and explicit knowledge as organizational memory in the SME context.

Originality/value: This paper is the one of the first to systematically review KS and KT in SMEs and propose a concept map. The research adds value to the growing literature of KS and KT and exposes the need for more specific activities to support SME managers, as well as HR managers, who need to facilitate KS and KT in SMEs.