Title: How Does Knowledge Management
Matter
in Enterprise Strategic Flexibility? “Multiple Case Study Approach
Based
on SMEs in Malaysia”
Abstract: SMEs
domestically
and globally are encountering tough competition. Globalization,
liberalization,
information revolution and ICT phenomena have brought about many
challenges
for all organizations more seriously for SMEs. The only way to cope
with
these impediments is to be strategically flexible and adaptable to
environmental
changes and emergent circumstances. Strategic Flexibility
requires
a comprehensive set of abilities to acquire, interpret, share and
utilize
knowledge by scanning internal and external environments carefully and
profoundly
in order to take immediate and proper actions. Therefore managing
knowledge
is an inseparable component of strategic flexibility. An integrated
system
has to be executed to strategize all enterprise activities based on
knowledge
toward becoming flexible strategically. But in enterprise’s management
literature
a dearth of an intensive study in the context of SMEs is vividly felt.
Therefore,
addressing this gap seems worthwhile for SME’s competitiveness; hence,
the
main objective of this study is to fill the gap empirically based on
case-study
of some service provider and manufacturing SMEs in Malaysia. Research
is
concluded with discussion and expressing limitations.
Authors: Arash
Najmaei and
Zahra Sadeghinejad