Knowledge management as a service: co-operation between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and training, consulting and research institutions

Based on a representative study covering SMEs, providers of training and consulting and research institutions in Austria, the co-operation process between SMEs and external providers of know-how is discussed. A lack of market transparency, problems in the search phase, a lack of co-operation targets and evaluation criteria as well as deficits in the co-operation during the transfer phase lead to a considerable number of SMEs which are disappointed with the co-operation. This problem can be met by the development of new forms of co-operation, i.e. integrated training and consulting programmes, process consultation of in-house development projects and the support of and process consultation of co-operations between SMEs. In this context, new learning technologies can be used to foster co-operative learning and networking.