International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology - IRJIET International Open Access, Monthly, Peer Reviewed, Reputed Journal ISSN (online): 2581-3048

Impact Factor (2025): 6.9

DOI Prefix: 10.47001/IRJIET

Usage and Applications of Knowledge Management for Improving SMEs Innovation in Sierra Leone

Samuel Saio MansaraySchool of Management, Department of Management Sciences and Engineering, Wuhan, PR China, 430070 & Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra LeoneIbrahim Abdulai SawanehSchool of Management, Dept. of Management Sciences and Engg, Wuhan, PR China & School of Technology, University of Management and Technology, Sierra Leone & School of Technology, Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology, Sierra Leone

Vol 5 No 2 (2021): Volume 5, Issue 2, February 2021 | Pages: 63-69

International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology

OPEN ACCESS | Research Article | Published Date: 27-02-2021

doi Logo doi.org/10.47001/IRJIET/2021.502010

pdf iconFull Text PDF
Abstract

Knowledge must be managed through a Knowledge Management (KM) system. Adequate knowledge of personnel, technology and processes is required for companies to be innovative. As such, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Sierra Leone (SL) require the right amount of knowledge in their personnel, technology, and processes in order to be innovative. Innovation is not an option, but the very means by which SMEs can survive in a continuous changing business environment, and one with so many challenges. This paper seeks to explore the use and applications of KM for improving SMEs innovation in SL. A theoretical study of the literature is done and an interview is conducted through mobile phone of managers and key resource persons in 50 SMEs in SL. The study shows that although KM is a novel concept in SL, it is being practiced by SMEs for improving their innovation. This practice leads to innovation, thereby productivity of the SMEs. Finally, there are empirical evidence of KM positive influence on SMEs innovation and performance.

Keywords

Knowledge Management, Knowledge, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Companies, Innovation, Performance, Sierra Leone


Citation of this Article

Samuel Saio Mansaray, Ibrahim Abdulai Sawaneh, “Usage and Applications of Knowledge Management for Improving SMEs Innovation in Sierra Leone” Published in International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology - IRJIET, Volume 5, Issue 2, pp 63-69, February 2021. Article DOI https://doi.org/10.47001/IRJIET/2021.502010

Licence Copyright (c) 2026 International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology creative common licence This work is licensed under Creative common Attribution Non Commercial 4.0 Internation Licence
References
  1. Goffee, R. and Jones, G. (2000). “Why should anyone be led by you?” Harvard Business Review, September-October, 62-70.
  2. Alavi, M. and Leidner, DE (2001). “Review: knowledge management and knowledge management systems: conceptual foundations and research issues”. MIS Quarterly, 25 (1), 107-136.
  3. Sunyoto (2020). “Improving SME’s performance through implementation of knowledge management: theoretical and empirical review”. European Journal of Research and Reflection in Management Sciences, 8 (1).
  4. Pissarides, F. (1999). “Is lack of funds the main obstacle to growth? Ebrd's experience with small- and medium-sized businesses in central and eastern Europe”. Journal of Business Venturing, 14 (5–6), 519-539.
  5. Katua, N.T. (2014). “The role of SMEs in employment creation and economic growth in selected countries”. International Journal of Education and Research, 2 (12), 461-472.
  6. Malkawil, M. S., and Abu Rumman, A. H. (2016). “Knowledge management capabilities and its impact on product innovation in SME’s”. International Business Research, 9 (5).
  7. Fitriatia, T. K., Purwanab, D. and Buchdadic, A. D. (2020). “The Role of Innovation in Improving Small Medium Enterprise (SME) Performance”. International Journal of Innovation, Creativity and Change, 11 (2).
  8. Bhoganadam, S. D., Rao, N. S., and Rao, D. S. (2017). “A study on issues and challenges faced by SMEs: a literature review”. Research Journal of SRNMC, 1.
  9. The World Bank Group (2020). “Sierra Leone: $40 million to support SME investments and economic diversification”. The World Bank Group. Available online: https://worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2020/07/30/sierra-leone-40-million-to-support-sme-investments-and-economic-diversification (accessed 5 January, 2021).
  10. Jorna, R. (2006). “Sustainable innovation: the organizational, human and knowledge dimension”. Greenleaf Publishing: Sheffield.
  11. Lichtenthaler, U. (2009). “Absorptive capacity, environmental turbulence, and the complimentarily of organizational learning processes”. Academy of Management Journal, 52 (4), 822-846.
  12. Damanpour, F., Walker, R.M., and Avellaneda, C.N. (2009). “Combinative effects of innovation types and organizational performance: a longitudinal study of service organizations”. Journal of Management Studies, 46 (4), 650-675.
  13. Ben Zaied, R.M., Louati, H. and Affes, H. (2015). “The relationship between organizational innovations, internal sources of knowledge and organizational performance”. International Journal of Managing Value and Supply Chains, 6 (1), 53-67.
  14. Chawla, D., and Joshi, H. (2010). “Knowledge management practices in Indian industries: a comparative study”. Journal of Knowledge Management, 14 (5), 708-725.
  15. Akram, K., Siddiqui, S. H., Nawaz, M. A., Ghauri, T. A., and Cheema, A. K. (2011). “Role of knowledge management to bring innovation: an integrated approach”. International Bulletin of Business Administration, 11.
  16. Bencikova, D., Mala, D., and Minarova, M. (2013). “How culturally intelligent are Slovak small and medium business?” Prague: Conference: 7th International Days of Statistics and Economics, 109-121.
  17. Abor, J., and Quartey, A. (2010). “Issues in SME development in Ghana and South Africa”. International Research Journal of Finance and Economy, 39 (6), 215-228.
  18. Namusonge, M. J. (2014). “Linking competencies with strategies: the case of small and medium-sized exporting firms in Kenya”. International Journal of Social Sciences and Entrepreneurship, 1 (11), 418-439.
  19. Kongolo, M. (2010). “Job creation versus job shedding and the role of SMEs in economic development”. African Journal of Business Management, 4 (11), 2288-2295.
  20. Byukusenge, E., Munene, J. C., and Orobia, L. (2016). “Does knowledge management lead to innovation? an empirical study on SMEs in Rwanda”. International Journal of Management Science and Business Administration, 2 (9), 7-19.
  21. Sutanto, J. E. (2020). “Knowledge management encouraging innovation in SMEs’ sector through acceleration real business solution (RBS) towards business performance”. International Journal of Economics, Business and Management Research, 4 (05).
  22. Widianingsih, L. P. (2013). “Knowledge management dalammendoronginovasi dan dayasaing”.
  23. Abtahi, H., and Salavati, A. (2007). “Knowledge management in the organization”. Tehran. In Iran.
  24. Darroch, J., and McNaughton, R. (2002). “Examining the link between knowledge management practices and types of innovation”. Journal of Intellectual Capital, 3(3), 210–222.
  25. Tassabehji, R., Mishra, J. L., and Dominguez-Péry, C. (2018). “Knowledge sharing for innovation performance improvement in Micro/SMEs: an insight from the creative sector”. Production Planning and Control, ResearchGate.
  26. OECD (2017). “Going digital: making the transformation work for growth and well-being”. Meeting of the Council at Ministerial Level, 7-8 June.
  27. OECD (2018). “Promoting innovation in established SMEs”. Mexico City: SME Ministerial Conference, 22-23 February.
  28. Patton, M. (2002) “Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods”, 3rd edn. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
  29. Scapens, R. W. (2006). “Understanding management accounting practices: A personal journey”. British Accounting Review, 38 (1), 1-30.
  30. Brown, M. E., Treviño, L. K., and Harrison, D. A. (2005). “Ethical leadership: A social learning perspective for construct development and testing”. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 97(2), 117-134.
  31. Lee, J. N., Fouch, M. J., Silver, P. G., and Bell, D. R. (2004). “Small-scale variations in seismic anisotropy near Kimberley, South Africa”, Geophysical Journal International 157 (2), 764-774.
  32. Wang, Z. and Wang, N. (2012). “Knowledge sharing, innovation and firm performance”. Expert Systems with Applications, 39, 8899-8908.
  33. Aliyu, M. S. (2016). “Influence of knowledge management on performance in small manufacturing firms”. International Journal of Business, Economics and Law, 8, 63-67.
  34. Hussain, I., Qurashi, A., Mujtaba, G., Waseem, M. A., and Iqbal, Z. (2019). “Knowledge management: a roadmap for innovation in SMEs’ sector of Azad Jammu & Kashmir”. Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, 9 (9).
  35. Handayani, R. (2020). “The effect of human capital on Batik SMEs innovation: the mediating role of adaptive creativity”. Binus Business Review, 11 (2), 105-113.
  36. Smith, E. A. (2001). “The role of tacit and explicit knowledge in the workplace”. Journal of Knowledge Management, 5 (4), 311-321.

Copyright @ 2026 IRJIET. All Right Reserved.

Licensed underCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.