Chapter 13: Transforming Small Businesses into Intelligent Enterprises Through Knowledge Management

Nory B. Jones
University of Maine Business School, USA

Jatinder N. D. Gupta
University of Alabama in Huntsville, USA

Copyright 2004, Idea Group Inc. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of Idea Group Inc. is prohibited.

Abstract

As small businesses struggle to survive in the face of intense competitive pressures, an emerging strategy to help them involves using knowledge management tactics to harness their intellectual capital and improve their sustainable competitive advantage. This chapter discusses the issues involved with the transformation of small businesses into intelligent enterprises via knowledge management tools and strategies. However, because a "build it and they will come" approach usually leads to failed initiatives, this chapter further addresses the issues of how small businesses can successfully incorporate adoption and diffusion theories to help them effectively transform themselves into successful learning organizations or intelligent enterprises. Finally, a case study from one small business is presented to validate some of the theories.