Knowledge Management Adoption and Enhancement of Competitive Advantages of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in South-West, Nigeria

Bolaji Comfort ADENIYI; Iyabode Abisola ADELUGBA

Bolaji Comfort ADENIYI Department of Entrepreneurial Studies, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere. Ekiti State. Nigeria
Iyabode Abisola ADELUGBA Department of Management Sciences Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere. Ekiti State. Nigeria

Keywords: Knowledge Management, Competitive Advantage, Unique Value Proposition, Customer’s Pain Point, Competition

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the extent to which knowledge management adoption influences the enhancement of competitive advantages of MSMEs in Southwest, Nigeria. The descriptive research design of the survey type was adopted in the study. The population of the study was 1,557,438, this comprised all the owners of MSMEs in Southwest, Nigeria. The study sample consisted of one thousand two hundred (1,200) respondents which was achieved through multi stage sampling techniques. The study adopted an instrument tagged ‘Knowledge Management and Enhancement of Competitive Advantage in Southwest, Nigeria (KMCA). The instrument was subjected to face and content validity by some experts in entrepreneurial studies department. The reliability of the instrument was estimated at 0.80 using Chronbach’s Alpha reliability method. The data collected for this study was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that: there is high level of adoption of knowledge management among MSMEs in Southwest, Nigeria; there is a positive and significant relationship between knowledge management adoption and identification of customers’ ‘pain points’ by the MSMEs and there is significant relationship between knowledge management adoption and the development of the unique value proposition of MSMEs in Southwest, Nigeria. Based on the findings, it was recommended that MSME owners should strive to adopt knowledge management.