The Role of Knowledge Management in Creating Competitive Advantage in Small and Medium-size Enterprises inthe Republic of Iraq

Abstract

Knowledge management (KM) is a vital component of organizational strategies to increase competitiveness. This study identifies the impact of KM in creating a competitive advantage. The main purpose is to determine the level of appreciation of the concept among SME stakeholders in Iraq. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were explored, 102 respondents were reached, and the results of the field survey were analyzed using SPSS for descriptive statistics analysis. The result shows that the application of KM is appreciated in Iraq, but its implementation is not yet at an optimal level. The research provides evidence from a developing country on the application of knowledge management in the management of small and medium-sized enterprises.