The objective of the work is to give some points of reflection on a very open question which is: “under what organizational circumstances knowledge dynamics lead to superior performance?”. The stimulus for studying both knowledge as an asset and the ways of organizing it, comes from the belief that both, but especially the latter, represent sources of competitive advantage for the firm. The purpose of this paper is to present a partial insight in this wide, but still unexplored, field of research. The paper is divided in two sections. In the first section the theoretical perspective that has guided this study is presented. In the second section the empirical analysis is described. This latter section presents, the findings of an exploratory research made on a theoretical sample of five SMEs in the textile and clothing sector in the industrial district of Prato, Italy. The investigation was conducted through a multi-case analysis, in order to gather data on organizational systems to manage reservoirs of knowledge. The results revealed interesting differences in practices employed in organizing knowledge by the high performance firms compared to the middle-low performance firms. At the end some concluding remarks useful for further research development and managerial implications are provided.
Organizing knowledge for SMEs competitiveness. Evidence from a multiple case study in the Italian Textile and Cothing Sector / D. Sarti. - STAMPA. - (2011), pp. 443-465.
Organizing knowledge for SMEs competitiveness. Evidence from a multiple case study in the Italian Textile and Cothing Sector
SARTI, DARIA
2011
Abstract
The objective of the work is to give some points of reflection on a very open question which is: “under what organizational circumstances knowledge dynamics lead to superior performance?”. The stimulus for studying both knowledge as an asset and the ways of organizing it, comes from the belief that both, but especially the latter, represent sources of competitive advantage for the firm. The purpose of this paper is to present a partial insight in this wide, but still unexplored, field of research. The paper is divided in two sections. In the first section the theoretical perspective that has guided this study is presented. In the second section the empirical analysis is described. This latter section presents, the findings of an exploratory research made on a theoretical sample of five SMEs in the textile and clothing sector in the industrial district of Prato, Italy. The investigation was conducted through a multi-case analysis, in order to gather data on organizational systems to manage reservoirs of knowledge. The results revealed interesting differences in practices employed in organizing knowledge by the high performance firms compared to the middle-low performance firms. At the end some concluding remarks useful for further research development and managerial implications are provided.I documenti in FLORE sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.