Knowledge-sharing quality as a key to SME success: a configurational analysis of social networking, trust, and ambidexterity

Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

Journal of Knowledge Management

Publication Date

11-25-2025

Abstract

Purpose – The study aims to investigates how different combinations of social capital, knowledge-sharing and ambidexterity factors contribute to high company performance. By applying fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), we assess 260 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), split by the levels of knowledge-sharing quality, to comprehend the configuration of factors that lead to high performance. Design/methodology/approach – fsQCA is used to analyze the optimal composition of factors that would lead to high organizational performance among 260 SMEs in Serbia, divided into two groups based on the knowledge-sharing quality. Findings – Multiple combinations of elements of social capital, knowledge sharing and ambidexterity lead to high SME performance. The analysis revealed that four configurations were found in high-quality knowledge-sharing firms and three in low-quality ones. Social trust and exploitative ambidexterity are core to success in high-quality contexts, while ambidexterity and explicit knowledge sharing are crucial in low-quality, knowledge-sharing ones. Practical implications – SME managers should develop complementary bundles of social, knowledge and ambidexterity capabilities to enhance performance. Originality/value – This paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the relationships among social, knowledge and ambidexterity capabilities, thereby expanding the existing literature that often considers these factors in isolation. Knowledge-sharing quality is viewed as a contextual condition, which offers a new theoretical framework for understanding how combinations of observed factors influence SME performance. The research provides a new perspective within the literature on organizational performance, especially in the domain of dynamic capability theory.

ISSN

1367-3270

Publisher

Emerald

First Page

1

Last Page

20

Disciplines

Business

Keywords

fsQCA, Knowledge sharing, Organizational ambidexterity, SME performance, Social capital

Scopus ID

105024448918

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

no

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