Knowledge creation in small building and construction firms

Autor: Susanne Durst, Ingi Runar Edvardsson, Guido Bruns
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2013
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Innovation Management, Vol 1, Iss 1, Pp 125-142 (2013)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2183-0606
DOI: 10.24840/2183-0606_001.001_0009
Popis: Studies on knowledge creation are limited in general, and there is a particular shortage of research on the topic in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Given the importance of SMEs for the economy and the vital role of knowledge creation in innovation, this situation is unsatisfactory. Accordingly, the purpose of our study is to increase our understanding of how SMEs create new knowledge. Data are obtained through semi-structured interviews with ten managing directors of German SMEs operating in the building and construction industry. The findings demonstrate the influence of external knowledge sources on knowledge creation activities. Even though the managing directors take advantage of different external knowledge sources, they seem to put an emphasis on informed knowledge sources. The study´s findings advance the limited body of knowledge regarding knowledge creation in SMEs.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals