Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 10 credits / 15 HE credits
Aim:
The overall aim of the thesis is to describe and understand how Vietnam-based
management consulting SMEs retain organizational knowledge in cases of employees’ departure
and further develop strategies for knowledge retention.
Methodology:
Qualitative research via semi-structured interviews in 2 Vietnam-based
management consulting SMEs (1 medium-sized company and 1 small company) was conducted.
Findings:
Knowledge retention is still a rather new concept in the Vietnamese context,
interestingly, however; some knowledge retention initiatives have been unconsciously
implemented by Vietnam-based management consulting SMEs. Small-sized companies, which
suffer more from resource scarcity in terms of human, finance, time, tend to be less active in
knowledge retention than medium-size companies. More efforts have been put in retaining tacit
knowledge by management consulting SMEs in Vietnam. Among the factors influencing
knowledge retention, leadership is seen to be the key factor to decide the successful
implementation of knowledge retention of Vietnam-based management consulting SMEs.
Vietnamese culture is also found to have indirect impacts (either positive or negative) on
knowledge retention through other factors (leadership, organizational culture, personal attitudes),
however the effect of national culture on knowledge retention varies from firm to firm, largely
depends on SMEs’ leadership.
Practical implications:
Considering the important roles of leaders in the implementation of
knowledge retention, training on leadership skills is highly recommended. Furthermore, trainings
on interpersonal skills and personal attitudes towards knowledge retention also need attention.
On top of that, it is essential to build up an organizational culture that facilitates knowledge
retention and provides appropriate organizational supports (affordable IT systems that suit
SMEs’ needs, extrinsic together with intrinsic rewards). Last but not least, knowledge retention
activities are recommended to be integrated into daily operations to cope with the issues related
to time constraints faced by management consulting SMEs.
2017.
Knowledge retention, knowledge sharing, SMEs, management consulting SMEs, Vietnam, leadership