Critical Success Factors for the Implementation of Knowledge Management in Small and Medium Enterprises – Malaysia and Pakistan Perspective

Rehman, Mobashar (2009) Critical Success Factors for the Implementation of Knowledge Management in Small and Medium Enterprises – Malaysia and Pakistan Perspective. Masters thesis, UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI PETRONAS.

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Abstract

Knowledge management is playing a vital role for the success of organizations as it is important to all type of businesses irrespective of their nature and size. Knowledge management has proved its significance at all levels including the individual, organization and country level. In the early days, knowledge management was not considered as much important for SMEs as it was for large organizations. Nevertheless, this misunderstanding has changed and this is the main reason why this research was conducted focusing on knowledge management implementation in SMEs.

This research is the authentication of previous studies done over the years by different researchers and is therefore strengthening the previous work through some modifications to suit the SME environment. This research was conducted on SMEs of Malaysia and Pakistan. Thirty SMEs were approached from each country and were selected using simple random sampling technique. Fourteen CSFs which are important for KM implementation were analyzed and their priority was also checked using the values of ‘R’, R-square. Based on those CSFs, a framework was recommended for knowledge management implementation in SMEs. Validity of framework was analyzed by using hypothesis testing through linear regression technique using SPSS and the results showed that data gathered was reliable.

Personally administered questionnaire method was used as research instrument with the top management as the target audience. Reliability of data was checked by using Cronbach alpha value. Besides checking the significance of 14 CSFs and proposing a framework for knowledge management implementation, research also analyzed the level of IT implementation in SMEs of Malaysia and Pakistan, years using knowledge management, future of knowledge management, reasons for not implementing knowledge management, benefits received from knowledge management implementation and type of applications used by SMEs of Malaysia and Pakistan. These findings showed that Pakistan has advantage over Malaysia in terms of IT and KM implementation. Impact of knowledge management implementation on financial and non-financial (daily) performance is also among the findings of this research and the results showed that financial and non-financial performance improves after implementation of KM.

This research provides a way forward for other researchers, authors and practitioners to further explore the implementation of knowledge management in SMEs by focusing on issues like developing knowledge friendly culture, availability of financial resources and commitment of top management.

Item Type: Thesis (Masters)
Departments / MOR / COE: Sciences and Information Technology
Depositing User: Users 5 not found.
Date Deposited: 04 Jun 2012 10:15
Last Modified: 25 Jan 2017 09:44
URI: http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/id/eprint/2903

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