Knowledge Management And Export Performance Among Malaysian SMEs: A Theoretical Framework

The strong bonding between SMEs and nation’s economy caused the rise of attention towards the SMEs’ development. However, SMEs in Malaysia are not developed in the full strength. Organizations that are not developed well will suffer and struggle in surviving in this competitive market as the commerce is changing rapidly. It is believed that the value and resources that carried by knowledge could help, guide and lead organization in gaining competitive advantage in the market. As such, knowledge works as the asset and capital in driving the organization’s success. Besides knowledge, innovation helps organization to reshape and reinvest themselves that could standstill in the competitive emerging market. Innovation works in producing a new and creative idea in implementing new products or enhancement on the existing products which could help to improve the organizational performance. This study examines the relationship between knowledge management and export performance among SMEs in Malaysia, mediated by innovation. This paper focuses on the manufacturing industry of SMEs. There are three dimensions of knowledge management in this study, namely, knowledge acquisition, knowledge dissemination and knowledge application. This study anticipates that the three dimension of knowledge management are critical antecedents on the export performance which could lead to positive relationship with the export performance of SMEs. The findings of the study provide an insight towards the organizations which could lead them in identifying effective strategies and helps in improving their export performance.