Conclusion

With respect to opportunities and challenges for SMEs, knowledge sharing appears to represent a mechanism for survival, growth and prosperity. As knowledge management continues to diffuse throughout the global business world, the competitive pressures may necessitate some form of KM as a prerequisite for survival. Therefore, implementing these diffusion methods should prove beneficial to small business owners and operators.

Small businesses can benefit from understanding the factors associated with diffusion including Rogers' five major elements. Another important consideration for small businesses is the cultural issues surrounding their organizations and resource issues that will prove important to employees. By understanding these issues, small businesses may be able to tailor the adoption and diffusion of technologies or a knowledge sharing system to their unique situation, thus improving their chances for success.

While the small business studied represented only one situation, it is interesting that several consistencies with the literature emerged, lending some possible connections and conclusions between the effective diffusion of knowledge management systems and a causal relationship with improved performance. The implication is that knowledge management can facilitate the creation of a learning organization or an intelligent enterprise. This improves creativity and innovation that further enhances productivity, problem solving and customer satisfaction. By promoting a culture that continually learns and improves, organizations can develop a sustainable competitive advantage that is not easily imitated by competitors.