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The impact of knowledge management and strategy configuration coherence on SME performance

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  • Carlo Bagnoli
  • Marco Vedovato

Abstract

According to recent literature, effective knowledge management should be coherent and based on the firm’s strategy. Prior empirical research, in contrast, tries to evaluate the impact of knowledge management initiatives directly on performance but finds inconsistent results and not allows the understanding of knowledge management contribution to competitive advantage generation. In this study we aim to investigate the impact of knowledge management and strategy configuration coherence on SMEs innovation and organizational performance through a quantitative analysis carried out on a sample of 60 manufacturing SMEs in northeast Italy. Our findings reveal that a significant coherence exists between knowledge management and strategy configurations. Most of the SMEs with a prospector and defender strategy adopt, in turn, an aggressive and conservative knowledge management. Moreover, we find that such coherence has a significant impact on the overall performance. This is particularly interesting since it suggests that the inconsistency in the results of prior studies on the impact of knowledge management on performance (Kalling in J Knowl Manag 7(3):67–81; 2003 ) may be due to the lack of consideration of knowledge management and strategy configuration coherence. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Carlo Bagnoli & Marco Vedovato, 2014. "The impact of knowledge management and strategy configuration coherence on SME performance," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 18(2), pages 615-647, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jmgtgv:v:18:y:2014:i:2:p:615-647
    DOI: 10.1007/s10997-012-9211-z
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    1. Roberto Cerchione & Emilio Esposito & Maria Rosaria Spadaro, 2015. "The Spread of Knowledge Management in SMEs: A Scenario in Evolution," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(8), pages 1-23, July.
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    3. Pawan V. Bhansing & Mark A. A. M. Leenders & Nachoem M. Wijnberg, 2016. "Selection system orientations as an explanation for the differences between dual leaders of the same organization in their perception of organizational performance," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 20(4), pages 907-933, December.
    4. Hock-Doepgen, Marianne & Clauss, Thomas & Kraus, Sascha & Cheng, Cheng-Feng, 2021. "Knowledge management capabilities and organizational risk-taking for business model innovation in SMEs," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 683-697.
    5. Luis Enrique Valdez-Juárez & Domingo García-Pérez-de-Lema & Gonzalo Maldonado-Guzmán, 2018. "ICT and KM, Drivers of Innovation and Profitability in SMEs," Journal of Information & Knowledge Management (JIKM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 17(01), pages 1-34, March.
    6. Chi H. P. Ho & Kiet T. Nguyen & Duc C. Trinh, 2024. "Business practices of trade and service firms: Evidence from Vietnam," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(1), pages 2037-2061, March.
    7. Rossidis Ioannis & Dimitrios Belias, 2020. "Combining Strategic Management with Knowledge Management: Trends and International Perspectives," International Review of Management and Marketing, Econjournals, vol. 10(3), pages 39-45.
    8. Luis Enrique Valdez-Juárez & Dolores Gallardo-Vázquez & Elva Alicia Ramos-Escobar, 2019. "Organizational Learning and Corporate Social Responsibility Drivers of Performance in SMEs in Northwestern Mexico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-23, October.
    9. Giovani Capalonga & Carlos Alberto Diehl & Francisco Antônio Mesquita Zanini, 2014. "Perceived Strategies Under the Focus of Strategic Positioning Theory, Resource Based-View, Strategic Mission and Organizational Typology: a Study of Companies in Southern Brazil," Brazilian Business Review, Fucape Business School, vol. 11(3), pages 28-52, June.
    10. Viktorija Petrov & Đorđe Ćelić & Zorica Uzelac & Zoran Drašković, 2020. "Three pillars of knowledge management in SMEs: evidence from Serbia," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 16(2), pages 417-438, June.
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