Karen Handley

Knowledge management in small and medium enterprises: a structured literature review

Purpose n n n n nThis paper aims to review and critique the knowledge management (KM) literature within small and medium enterprises (SMEs), offers an overview of the state of research and outline a future research agenda. n n n n nDesign/methodology/approach n n n n nPapers published in KM journals are analysed using a structured literature review methodology. The paper analyses 89 papers published in ten journals specialising in the field of KM. n n n n nFindings n n n n nKM within SMEs is a research area of growing importance. Findings show that literature on KM in SMEs is fragmented and dominated by unrelated research, with few comparative studies between countries and several countries receiving little attention. Additionally, different definitions of SMEs are used and different kinds of SMEs (e.g. micro, small and medium) are often treated as equivalent, making comparison almost impossible. The results show a failure to address the implications of findings for practitioners and policymakers, which risks relegating the KM research on SMEs to irrelevance. n n n n nOriginality/value n n n n nThe paper presents a comprehensive structured literature review of the articles published in KM journals. The paper’s findings can offer insights into future research avenues.

Making sense of contemporary disasters: a liquid development perspective

Purpose n n n n nThe purpose of this paper is to explore economic conditions of contemporary society to provide insight into the ways in which the consequences of disaster, including environmental migration, are accentuated. n n n n nDesign/methodology/approach n n n n nThis research draws on Zygmunt Bauman’s theory of liquid modernity and notions of development to analyse disaster. From the analysis, a new concept, liquid development, is proposed and critiqued as a contributing factor leading to severe contemporary disaster. n n n n nFindings n n n n nLiquid development provides a new way of making sense of the conditions and consequences of economic growth and a business as usual attitude. It further provides a framework to explore the potential disaster of environmental migration in the Pacific Islands arising from liquid development driven climate change-induced sea level rise. n n n n nResearch limitations/implications n n n n nAnalysing these conditions provides greater understanding of the resulting impact of disaster, creating awareness and informing the need for accountability and social policy. This study aims to contribute to further practical and research enquiry that will challenge liquid developers to reconsider their impact and to accept responsibility for vulnerable members of society as part of their business as usual structure. n n n n nOriginality/value n n n n nThis paper adds to Bauman’s understanding of the consequences of globalisation through the construct of liquid development. It also continues his debate by giving awareness to the global issue of environmental migration.

The Same or Different: How Women Have Become Included in Corporate Leadership in Australia

Corporate boards are gendered spaces where norms of masculine leadership approaches prevail. Using publicly available data, this chapter analyses and compares the commentary about profiles and career pathways of newly appointed female and male directors. Our analysis finds much similarity in the human capital of men and women included on boards of ASX 200 companies, in the context of a public discourse that dwells on the novelty of female directors in Australia, and does not equally recognize their business skills, networks and qualifications. Such similarity suggests little change in either the public discourse or board dynamics at a macro-level. Nevertheless, our study finds a glimmer of light in terms of change as we see references in our analysis regarding the contribution that women can potentially make to board dynamics.