Cultural Factors and Knowledge Sharing in SMEs

Knowledge sharing, if not successful, can hinder the development of small- and medium-sized firms because of loss of productivity and competitiveness. Knowledge sharing is subject to organizational and national cultural influences. Medium-sized firms often implement general knowledge-sharing models without considering cultural factors. In this qualitative, multisite, exploratory case study the influence of cultural factors on knowledge-sharing activities in medium-sized enterprises in transition economies is examined. The study is driven by the central research question:How do cultural factors influence employees' perceptions of knowledge-sharing initiatives in medium-sized enterprises in transition economies? Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 managers working in 10 medium-sized enterprises in Albania, which is a transition economy. The six themes generated reveal the influence of cultural factors on employees perceptions of knowledge-sharing initiatives in medium-sized enterprises in transition economies. The key findings of this study are that national culture and organizational culture influence employee behavior and participation.

Autorentext

Narasimha Rao Vajjhala is an Assistant Professor at the University of New York Tirana and has a doctorate in management from the University of Phoenix, United States. He also has a Master's in Computer Applications (MCA) from Osmania University in India as well as Master's in Business Administration (MBA) from IUKB, Switzerland.