The implementation of Knowledge Management in the practice of international active Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises with the special aspect of motivation and commitment

Term Paper , 2008 , 37 Pages , Grade: 1,3

Business economics - Business Management, Corporate Governance

KM is and will be a more and more important issue for all companies in the future, especially for SMEs referring to the fast development of globalisation, if they don’t want to miss the connection to this trend. SMEs haven’t already adopted KM in the same way great companies has done it and often not as effective and systematic as it should be. So SMEs must improve their efforts in this direction and apply the right tools and processes of KM, also and especially referring to the motivational aspects, which are indispensable for it. The focus of this work lies therefore on the practical implementation of KM-Systems and furthermore on the special roles of motivation and commitment of the employees in this process. SMEs must improve their efforts in this direction and apply the right tools and processes of KM.
A it will shown, a knowledge-friendly culture and a proactive management support is very import for the success of the KM-process. This has to be combined with good motivational aids, incentive systems and a well planned commitment of and with the employees from the very first beginning of the KM-process. In the comprehensive view the whole organisational framework could be could be seen as a system of incentives, which either motivates or discourages the employees to search for new effective behaviour within the KM-process.
SMEs should see the knowledge orientated trend as a positive pressure to make their homework in the mentioned way. The presented work provides the theoretical back¬ground for the mentioned goals as well as practical tools and approaches towards KM in SMEs. Some helpful tools are presented in the appendix.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• 0. Executive summary
• 1. Introduction and procedure
• 1.1. Research objective
• 1.2. Problem statement
• 1.3. Relevance of the topic
• 1.4. Structure of the work
• 2. Terms and definitions
• 2.1. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• 2.2. Knowledge and Knowledge Management (KM)
• 2.3. Motivation
• 3. Relevant theories
• 3.1. Theoretical approaches of Knowledge Management
• 3.1.1. Theory of Knowledge Management in general
• 3.1.2. Special theoretical approaches of KM for SMEs
• 3.2. Relevant theoretical approaches of motivation and commitment
• 3.3. Theoretical approaches for the special role of motivation and commitment in KM in SMEs
• 4. Practical aspects for the implementation of KM in SMEs
• 4.1. Practical aspects of the implementation of KM in SMEs in general
• 4.2. Practical aspects for supporting the motivation and the commitment of employees regarding the implementation of KM in SME
• 5. Conclusion and outlook
• 5.1. General Conclusion
• 5.2. Relevance of motivation, commitment and company culture
• 5.3. Critical Aspects
• 5.4. Outlook for the future
• 6. Sources
• 7. Appendix

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This assignment examines the implementation of Knowledge Management (KM) within international active Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) with a special focus on motivation and commitment. The research aims to understand the challenges and opportunities associated with integrating KM into SMEs and how to effectively leverage employee motivation and commitment to facilitate successful implementation.

• Knowledge Management (KM) in SMEs
• Motivation and Commitment in KM implementation
• Theoretical frameworks for KM and motivation
• Practical aspects of KM implementation in SMEs
• The role of company culture in KM success

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The introduction lays out the research objective, problem statement, relevance, and structure of the work. Chapter 2 defines key terms including SMEs, KM, and motivation. Chapter 3 explores relevant theories of KM, motivation, and commitment, particularly in the context of SMEs. Chapter 4 delves into practical aspects of KM implementation in SMEs, including strategies for motivating and engaging employees. The conclusion offers a general overview, emphasizing the importance of motivation, commitment, and company culture in KM success. It also highlights critical aspects and future directions for research.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This work focuses on the implementation of Knowledge Management (KM) in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), exploring the critical role of motivation and commitment in driving successful knowledge sharing and utilization. Key themes include theoretical frameworks for KM and motivation, practical aspects of KM implementation, and the impact of company culture on employee engagement and knowledge transfer. The study draws upon research findings and insights to provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with KM in SMEs.

• College: University of applied sciences Dortmund (FOM - Fachhochschule für Oekonomie und Management)
• Course: International Business Strategy
• Grade: 1,3
• Author: Diplomvolkswirt Stephan Jäger (Author)
• Publication Year: 2008
• Pages: 37
• Catalog Number: V116825
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640191192
• ISBN (Book): 9783640191208
• Language: English
• Tags: Knowledge, Management, Small, Medium-Sized, Enterprises, International, Business, Strategy