EMPIRICAL RESEARCH ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT, MARKET ORIENTATION AND SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES PERFORMANCE – SELECTED PRELIMINARY RESULTS

The article presents preliminary results of empirical research on the relationship between knowledge management, market orientation and the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). The literature analysis allowed designing a research tool /survey questionnaire/ for two groups – the SME owners/managers and SME employees. Both market orientation and knowledge management focus on the knowledge, both conceptions are considered to be determinants of the present-day enterprises increase. Both conceptions are considered to be required for effective performance of enterprises (Brzostek, Michna, 2014).The literature does not indicate unambiguously as regards the direction of the relationship between knowledge management and market orientation. Effective knowledge management creates conditions for processing, interpreting and using the knowledge on market trends. Integration of knowledge management and market orientation may be the key element of competence and improvement of competitive company position (Wang, Hult, Ahmed, 2009).The research will allow elaborating the practical guidance for owners/managers of SME, and thus increasing the effective performance and the possibility of development. The article presents preliminary results of empirical research on the relationship between knowledge management, market orientation and the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). The literature analysis allowed designing a research tool /survey questionnaire/ for two groups – the SME owners/managers and SME employees. Both market orientation and knowledge management focus on the knowledge, both conceptions are considered to be determinants of the present-day enterprises increase. Both conceptions are considered to be required for effective performance of enterprises (Brzostek, Michna, 2014). The literature does not indicate unambiguously as regards the direction of the relationship between knowledge management and market orientation. Effective knowledge management creates conditions for processing, interpreting and using the knowledge on market trends. Integration of knowledge management and market orientation may be the key element of competence and improvement of competitive company position (Wang, Hult, Ahmed, 2009). The research will allow elaborating the practical guidance for owners/managers of SME, and thus increasing the effective performance and the possibility of development.