4.4 What we know about knowledge creation/acquisition
The topic of knowledge creation and/or acquisition refers to ways, which focus on the
construction of new knowledge. This new knowledge can be generated internally or
acquired from outside the firm. Due to their natural limitations, SMEs are particularly forced
to use external knowledge creation sources (Egbu et al., 2005). The findings underline the
meaning of learning within this process (Table V). Yet, Cegarra-Navarro and Dewhurst (2006)
draw particular attention to a firm’s ability of unlearning as critical precondition to new
knowledge.
This topic seems to be of ongoing interest among scholars. With regard to the methods,
questionnaires appear to be viewed as most suitable.
Another article was identified (Table VI) that covers the processes of knowledge creation,
knowledge transfer and knowledge utilisation. In the context of the implementation of an
e-business system, the authors stress that the three processes need to be addressed
holistically rather than separately.