Localizing Knowledge in Networks of SMEs—Implication of Proximities on the IT Support

Stefan Thalmann () and Stephan Schäper
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Stefan Thalmann: Know-Center GmbH and Pro2Future GmbH
Stephan Schäper: Julius Blum GmbH

A chapter in Knowledge Management in Digital Change, 2018, pp 189-206 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract The concentration of knowledge development around the economy’s big players and into few regions leads to rising inequalities of knowledge distribution. Due to shorter innovation cycles, more and more knowledge is ephemeral. To stay competitive, both trends force organizations to absorb increasingly more distant knowledge faster and with less opportunities of reuse. This situation is particularly challenging for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with their limited resources. Joining networks focused on the acquisition of external knowledge and is one promising solution for SMEs. So far, there is little research on strategies that facilitate localization of knowledge, particularly in networks of SMEs. In this paper, therefore, we first identified the phases of localizing external knowledge, followed by an investigation on the role of proximities during the localization process and the potential for supportive IT.

Keywords: Small And Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs); External Knowledge; Short Innovation Cycles; Cognitive Proximity; Ephemeral Knowledge (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:prochp:978-3-319-73546-7_11

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-73546-7_11

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