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Pathways for knowledge exchange in SMEs in software‐driven knowledge‐intensive business services
Author(s) -
Teirlinck Peter
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
randd management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.253
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1467-9310
pISSN - 0033-6807
DOI - 10.1111/radm.12311
Subject(s) - business , goodwill , openness to experience , knowledge management , diversification (marketing strategy) , social exchange theory , social capital , interpersonal communication , government (linguistics) , structural capital , industrial organization , human capital , public relations , marketing , finance , financial capital , individual capital , economics , economic growth , sociology , psychology , computer science , social psychology , social science , linguistics , philosophy , communication , political science
This paper presents pathways for knowledge exchange as regards innovation in R&D‐active SMEs in software‐driven knowledge‐intensive business services in a capital city environment. A semistructured qualitative analysis focusing at social capital enablers for knowledge exchange reveals that interpersonal social proximity is the primary driver for knowledge exchange. Structural enablers for knowledge exchange include accessibility for clients, geographical proximity to research partners, temporary places for formal and informal meetings, specialization and diversification in terms of human resources skills, and informal interpersonal networks. Market and government‐related goals, access to public funding and possibilities for lobbying, as well as openness to a multicultural environment, are all underlying cognitive factors. Relational social capital dimensions include organized trust in terms of neutral ground, goodwill trust‐based interpersonal weak ties, and mutually embedded businesses and processes with institutions.