Process Model for Knowledge Potential Measurement in SMEs

Knowledge measurement is developing into a new research field in the area of knowledge management. To ensure that a company is successful, business, technology, and human elements must be integrated and balanced into a knowledge measurement system. The introduction of a knowledge audit with the objective to uncovering the tacit knowledge in an organization and of identifying the existing management practices is needed. This chapter uses the quantum mechanical thinking as a reference model for the development of a knowledge potential measurement system. This system is influenced by three measurement components: (1) Person-dependent variables, (2) System-dependent variables and (3) knowledge velocity. Based on several case studies conducted in small and medium-sized enterprises, a process model for the implementation of the knowledge potential framework is discussed and introduced. Future research and limitations of the model are discussed in the final part.