Knowledge management as a solution for the shortage of competent employees in SMEs at the developing country (Case study: Vietnam)

Abstract

This paper presents partial results from the first empirical study of KM in SMEs of Vietnam. A preliminary survey had revealed that KM is an important issue for SMEs in Vietnam. It also identified the main motivation for SMEs to implement KM-related activities (the search for solutions to a chronic shortage of competent employees) as well as the two probable main causes for this shortage: (1) the departure of employees from SMEs and/or (2) remaining employees not learning how to work effectively. Using statistical analysis and fuzzy methodology, this paper formally verifies whether the inferences from the preliminary study really hold for the general population of Vietnamese SMEs, and from there proposes obvious actions to be taken to solve the shortage of competent employees. The findings presented in this paper help us understand more about the operations of SMEs in developing countries and suggest a feasible approach to initiate KM for SMEs.