MODEL TRANSFER KNOWLEDGE USAHA KECIL MENENGAH DALAM MENCIPTAKAN INOVASI PRODUK (STUDI KASUS USAHA KERUPUK KABUPATEN TUNTANG SEMARANG)

Abstract

The growth of SMEs in Indonesia are very fast, but they do not have good competitive advantage. Some of the reason are because they do not have good transfer knowledge in innovation product. Transfer knowledge becomes strategic issues in SMEs, to make they have more capability in running their business or making good innovation for their business. However, a review of the literature shows that no empirical research has looked at knowledge management issues at the inter-organizational level in SMEs. This paper reports on an empirical investigation with in local SMEs in Salatiga in the manufacture sector to identify their needs and practices regarding inter-organizational knowledge transfer, and thus provide empirical evidence to support the above belief.
This study using a two-tier method (i.e. using both questionnaire survey and interview approaches) is deployed to address the main research objectives. A questionnaire survey of SMEs is carried out to investigate their current inter-organizational knowledge transfer situation and owner perception on various relevant issues. Then five face-to-face interviews with SMEs Owner are conducted to further validate key findings drawn from the questionnaire survey.
The empirical evidence collected from the survey and interviews confirms the general belief that external knowledge is of prime importance for SMEs, and demonstrates that SMEs have very strong needs for external knowledge and inter-organizational knowledge transfer.
This study has certain limitations: its results may not be applicable to other industrial sectors or the same sector in other countries; or to micro or large companies; nor does it involve cross-cultural issues.