Knowledge management in 10 Colombian companies : an intertwined multiple case study based on the Nonaka-Takeuchi model

The Knowledge Management (KM) process is presented through the three components of the Nonaka-Takeuchi theory, using the methodology of intertwined multiple case studies on a sample of 10 Colombian companies: Five Large Businesses (LBs) and Five Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs). The objective was to determine the level of KM and compare both sample groups, based on the three components of the theory: the four modes (4MDs), five conditions (5CDs), and five phases (5PSs). The main findings show that, in the 4MDs of converting knowledge from tacit to explicit, the five SMBs scored higher than the five LBs. Likewise, the results show that the 10 businesses carry out the necessary KM actions to prevent created knowledge from easily disappearing over time. Finally, the study found, based on the analysis of the knowledge spiral, that the five SMBs manage knowledge more in line with the theory than the five LBs.