Developing small and medium enterprises using knowledge management frameworks : A case study in Lithuania

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the role of knowledge management (KM) in small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in Lithuania by looking at information and knowledge resources, the development of information technology (IT) which supports the business process and the main processes of KM inside companies. Design/methodology/approach – Questionnaires and some interviews within Lithuanian SMEs helped reveal what the present situation is in terms of KM processes and the use of IT. Findings – There appears to be a strong awareness of KM already. However, the development of adequate methods to make information management (IM) and KM fully effective appears to be lacking or only partially realized. There is some evidence to suggest that Lithuanian SME managers are becoming more psychologically prepared to work within KM but there is much less evidence to show that this is leading to effective innovation in practice at present. Originality/value – There is great interest in the smaller emergent European economies in particular, and in SMEs in general. Lithuania inherited a stronger asset base than some ex‐Soviet republics and is positioning itself amongst the Baltic economies. With few natural resources, “knowledge” is a key area for growth, but SMEs and other sectors still need to engage strongly in development. SMEs have yet to drive the economy forward.