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Performance drivers in knowledge-intensive entrepreneurial firms: a multidimensional perspective

Bruno Fischer (School of Applied Sciences, State University of Campinas, Limeira, Brazil and also to the National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russian Federation)
Sergio Salles-Filho (Department of Science and Technology Policy, State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil)
Camila Zeitoum (Department of Science and Technology Policy, State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil)
Fernando Colugnati (Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil)

Journal of Knowledge Management

ISSN: 1367-3270

Article publication date: 16 August 2021

Issue publication date: 28 April 2022

593

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer a comprehensive perspective on different facets of knowledge management and their effects on the performance of knowledge-intensive entrepreneurial ventures.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical setting involves small and medium-sized enterprises located in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Primary data for 223 knowledge-intensive entrepreneurship (KIE) firms was obtained through questionnaires applied to ventures which applied to the innovative research in small business program, a small business innovation research-like initiative run by the São Paulo Research Foundation. Econometric results assessed the drivers of competitiveness in terms of firm growth, research and development intensification and technology transfer.

Findings

Results highlight the complexity involved in establishing effective knowledge management processes in terms of driving KIE performance. Notwithstanding, some interesting insights on the moderation effects of strategic knowledge management (SKM) systems over technical skills could be identified with particular emphasis for the case of academic spin-offs. Ecosystem drivers present a good explanation power for technology transfer practices but fall short in providing answers for firm-level growth dynamics. It is also noteworthy that public and private investments in KIE firms are similarly associated with positive impacts – contrary to the view that private investors perform better than governmental sources in picking promising small ventures.

Originality/value

The assessment has provided novel evidence for a sample of KIE ventures concerning the appraisal of performance drivers associated with three dimensions of knowledge management, namely, technical knowledge, SKM and ecosystem features. Firms’ outcomes were addressed from a multidimensional perspective, thus providing a comprehensive perspective of the events under scrutiny.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Authors acknowledge funding from the São Paulo Research Foundation – FAPESP (Grant #2017/17461-1). Bruno Fischer’s contribution to this article is also based on the study funded by the Basic Research Program of the National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE) and by the Russian Academic Excellence Project ‘5-100’.

Citation

Fischer, B., Salles-Filho, S., Zeitoum, C. and Colugnati, F. (2022), "Performance drivers in knowledge-intensive entrepreneurial firms: a multidimensional perspective", Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 26 No. 5, pp. 1342-1367. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-03-2021-0264

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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