{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,2]],"date-time":"2026-03-02T23:47:10Z","timestamp":1772495230238,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":56,"publisher":"Emerald","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,6]],"date-time":"2021-05-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1620259200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/site-policies"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JKM"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2021,12,7]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Purpose<\/jats:title><jats:p>This paper aims to report findings of up-to-date insights to fill the knowledge gap of lack of theoretical and practical understandings of how knowledge is used in medium-sized enterprises (MEs) for ensuring their performance excellence, healthy survival and growth, particularly using the contextual background of quality improvement as the standing point to concretise the research content and research participants\u2019 mind-set for data collection.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Design\/methodology\/approach<\/jats:title><jats:p>The empirical data were attained by conducting first a multiple-case study and thereafter a structured interview. Insights were obtained through analysing the collected data and triangulating the findings with the contention from the extant literature where available.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Findings<\/jats:title><jats:p>A set of approaches for effective quality improvement knowledge (QIK) utilisation in MEs have been identified and attested, as well as prioritised for a clear guidance on their application by practical businesses.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Originality\/value<\/jats:title><jats:p>As a pioneering study on the particularly focussed issue, namely, a current knowledge gap \u2013 QIK utilisation in MEs, theoretically the research contributes to the enrichment of the current KM and QI literature with a primary focus on knowledge utilisation in MEs. Practically its findings provide insightful guidance to practice on the approaches of QIK utilisation.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1108\/jkm-07-2020-0495","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,6]],"date-time":"2021-05-06T04:38:48Z","timestamp":1620275928000},"page":"2361-2384","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Knowledge utilisation in Chinese medium-sized manufacturing firms \u2013 an exploration under the backcloth of quality improvement"],"prefix":"10.1108","volume":"25","author":[{"given":"Chengbo","family":"Wang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Xiaomei","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Hong","family":"Su","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ying","family":"Tian","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"140","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,6]]},"reference":[{"issue":"1","key":"key2021120312115377700_ref001","first-page":"1","article-title":"Organizational culture and the creation of a dynamic environment for knowledge sharing","volume":"5","year":"2013","journal-title":"International Journal of Management & Innovation"},{"key":"key2021120312115377700_ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"205","DOI":"10.1111\/jsbm.12310","article-title":"Corporate entrepreneurship and codification of the knowledge acquired from strategic partners in SMEs","volume":"55","year":"2017","journal-title":"Journal of Small Business Management"},{"issue":"4","key":"key2021120312115377700_ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"235","DOI":"10.1002\/kpm.314","article-title":"The relevance of knowledge management and intellectual capital research","volume":"15","year":"2008","journal-title":"Knowledge and Process Management"},{"issue":"4","key":"key2021120312115377700_ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"471","DOI":"10.1111\/jsbm.12002","article-title":"Examining the link between entrepreneurial orientation and learning processes in small and Medium-Sized enterprises","volume":"51","year":"2013","journal-title":"Journal of Small Business Management"},{"issue":"5","key":"key2021120312115377700_ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"650","DOI":"10.1108\/IJEBR-09-2014-0171","article-title":"Entrepreneurial learning requires action on the meaning generated","volume":"21","year":"2015","journal-title":"International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2021120312115377700_ref006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"538","DOI":"10.1108\/JKM-10-2016-0456","article-title":"How to deal with knowledge management misalignment: a taxonomy based on a 3D fuzzy methodology","volume":"22","year":"2018","journal-title":"Journal of Knowledge Management"},{"issue":"6","key":"key2021120312115377700_ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"851","DOI":"10.1108\/00251740510603600","article-title":"A review of case studies publishing in management decision 2003-2004: guides and criteria for achieving quality in qualitative research","volume":"43","year":"2005","journal-title":"Management Decision"},{"key":"key2021120312115377700_ref08a","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"10210","DOI":"10.3390\/su70810210","article-title":"The spread of knowledge management in smes: a scenario in evolution","volume":"7","year":"2015","journal-title":"Sustainability"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2021120312115377700_ref008","first-page":"1","article-title":"Case studies in the management of operations","volume":"28","year":"2016","journal-title":"Production Planning and Control: The Management of Operations"},{"key":"key2021120312115377700_ref009","unstructured":"Chinasme (2017), \u201cChina Centre for promotion of SME development\u201d, available at: www.chinasme.org.cn\/n1398\/c9886\/content.html (accessed August 2019)."},{"issue":"4","key":"key2021120312115377700_ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"426","DOI":"10.1108\/03090591211220348","article-title":"Decision making regarding access to training and development in medium-sized enterprises: an exploratory study using the critical incident technique","volume":"36","year":"2012","journal-title":"European Journal of Training and Development"},{"key":"key2021120312115377700_ref09a","unstructured":"Colotla, I., Zhou, Y., Du, V., Wong, J., Walters, J., Rose, J. and Maecker, L. 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