From practical challenges to vocational training in small companies thorugh knowledge pills

The paper focuses on vocational training of basic knowledge management (KM) practices for managers and employees of small and medium sized KIBS (Knowledge-Intensive Business Services). For these companies, KM is essential but there is a need for employees to get trained in order to implement KM practices effectively. Especially, in small and medium sized KIBS, there is lack of resources and competence, and the implementation of KM is generally based on informal and unstructured methods. The paper illustrates the steps and the main outcomes of an EU Erasmus+ funded project aimed at implementing an e-learning course targeted to KIBS. The project was carried out by an international team including Tallinn Technology University, Gdansk University of Technology, National University of Political Studies and Administration, University of Padova, Estonian Chamber of Commerce, and the Polish company 4Experience. The main outcome consists of a web-based platform where training contents to KIBS professionals, managers and employees were uploaded in the form of “knowledge pills”, i.e. small batches of training contents focusing each on a specific topic, issue, or practical problem. The development of the e-learning platform is based on a sort of action-research approach. In fact, the course content and the training methodology approach were developed by implementing strict and continuous interactions between the research team and the companies. This modality proved to be effective, because it effectively links the practical KM needs of companies with the KM experience of researchers.