Pillania (2008a), who studied the strategic component of knowledge management in SMEs
from India, demonstrated an emphasis on customer-focused knowledge among Indian
automotive component manufacturers, underlying the close links between SMEs and their
customers as is often found with this category of firms (e.g. Mugler, 1998; Malinen and
Stenholm, 2002). Concerning SMEs‘ strategic approaches Phillina stressed that Indian
SMEs need to incorporate the benefits of KM more strongly in order to secure their
sustainable competitiveness.