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DO SMEsBENEFIT FROM HRM-RELATED KNOWLEDGE PROTECTION IN INNOVATION MANAGEMENT?

Author

Listed:
  • HEIDI OLANDER

    (Lappeenranta University of Technology, School of Business, P.O. Box 20, FIN-53851 Lappeenranta, Finland)

  • PIA HURMELINNA-LAUKKANEN

    (Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4600, FIN-90014 Oulu, Finland)

  • PIA HEILMANN

    (Lappeenranta University of Technology, School of Business, P.O. Box 20, FIN-53851 Lappeenranta, Finland)

Abstract

In terms of innovation generation and management, creative employees are the most valuable resources in small firms. Thus, knowledge leaking and leaving are the major staff-related risks. Protecting HRM-related knowledge is one effective way of dealing with these challenges, although this is not always acknowledged by academics or by managers. It is particularly valuable in safeguarding the existing background knowledge of the firm, and thus the prerequisites for future innovation. The aim in this study is to shed light on what is a somewhat neglected protection and appropriability mechanism, and thus to enhance understanding of the role of HRM in protecting core company knowledge—especially in SMEs. These issues are explored in a review of the latest literature and a case study of 15 SMEs representing three industries. The theoretical contribution of the study is to introduce and empirically test a typology of five HRM-related knowledge-protection mechanisms: recruitment, education and training on matters of confidentiality, retaining employees, capturing and diffusing knowledge in-house, and monitoring.

Suggested Citation

  • Heidi Olander & Pia Hurmelinna-Laukkanen & Pia Heilmann, 2011. "DO SMEsBENEFIT FROM HRM-RELATED KNOWLEDGE PROTECTION IN INNOVATION MANAGEMENT?," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 15(03), pages 593-616.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:ijimxx:v:15:y:2011:i:03:n:s1363919611003453
    DOI: 10.1142/S1363919611003453
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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. Jan Pawlowski & Markus Bick & René Peinl & Stefan Thalmann & Ronald Maier & Lars Hetmank & Paul Kruse & Malte Martensen & Henri Pirkkalainen, 2014. "Social Knowledge Environments," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 6(2), pages 81-88, April.

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