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Barriers, practices, methods and knowledge management tools in startups

Fábio Lotti Oliva (Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil)
Masaaki Kotabe (Temple University, Philadelphia, USA)

Journal of Knowledge Management

ISSN: 1367-3270

Article publication date: 26 February 2019

Issue publication date: 28 November 2019

8489

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the main barriers, practices, methods and knowledge management tools in startups that are characterized as agile organizations with dynamic capabilities to meet the demands of a business environment of high volatility, uncertainties, complexity and ambiguity.

Design/methodology/approach

The conceptual basis of the research focused on the triad: agile organization, dynamic capabilities and knowledge management. Field research began by interviewing experts to identify the barriers, practices, methods and knowledge management tools in startups. Based on the theoretical review, on the desk research and on the result of interviews with experts, a quantitative research was carried out with the leading startups coworking of São Paulo city. The obtained data made it possible to develop descriptive analyses and run linear regressions and cluster analysis for exploratory research.

Findings

Startups with higher maturity in innovation level, solution development level, and scalability development level, present a higher degree of utilization of the practices, methods and tools dedicated to knowledge management.

Practical implications

It is expected that results of the research presented in detail will be able to illustrate concrete examples of practices, methods, and knowledge management tools for large established companies seeking the organizational agility of startups.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the identification of barriers, practices, methods and tools of management of knowledge in startups, through the conceptual triad: agile organization, dynamic capabilities and knowledge management.

Keywords

Citation

Oliva, F.L. and Kotabe, M. (2019), "Barriers, practices, methods and knowledge management tools in startups", Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 23 No. 9, pp. 1838-1856. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-06-2018-0361

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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