The aim of this paper was to better understand what we know about KM benefits in SMEs. This understanding is
critical given the said relevance of KM activities on firm performance and competitiveness. Based on a systematic
literature review, we identified nine empirical studies which fulfilled our selection criteria. The small number of
papers indicates that our body of knowledge regarding this topic is poor and fragmented, making us call for more
intense research.
The reviewed studies highlight that SMEs can benefit from KM activities with regard to employee development,
innovation, customer satisfaction and organisational success. Given the prevalence of SMEs on the one hand and
their resource limitations on the other, there is a strong need for more research on this topic to provide actual proof
of the usefulness of