5.7.2 Perspective used to study knowledge management in SMEs. The studies reveal a
normative or prescriptive approach when discussing knowledge management in SMEs. It
would appear that many researchers in this field, consciously or unconsciously, compare KM
activities in large firms with those found in smaller firms, on the assumption that these firms
are comparable. This approach is dangerous as SMEs are not ‘‘merely a scaled-down
version of a large business’’ (Curran and Blackburn, 2001, p. 5). The work of Hutchinson and
Quintas (2008) represents an exception, highlighting that in order to understand KM practice in SMEs researchers need a different approach. Consequently, more research is
needed towards putting a stronger emphasis on what is given in SMEs rather than what
should be given. This may help to reduce the gap between theory and practice.
Table X provides a summary of the analysis conducted.