Behind The Curtain Of Success: Investigating Tacit Knowledge Transfer And Its Impact On Technopreneur Success Of ICT Smes In Malaysia

Abstract

This study aims to assess what and how the form of tacit knowledge transfer by the ICT entrepreneurs (technopreneurs) can be done to ensure the entrepreneurial sustainable success of this industry in Malaysia. The lack of attention on the role of tacit knowledge in sustaining technopreneurship and how this knowledge can be transferred from individual entrepreneur to their organizational workforce become the fundamental issues discussed in this study. The data gathering process uses semi-structured interview on fifteen (15) technopreneurs from various demographic categories that consist of small and medium size of enterprises (SMEs) in the ICT related businesses. The findings from the thematic analysis have found that the transfer of tacit factors like continuous learning, leadership, collaboration, mentorship, and networking efforts possess the co-occurrence relationships with the entrepreneurial sustainable success factor to ensure long-term performance, besides other tacit factors that have been identified. The findings of this study indicates that the development of tacit knowledge among technopreneurs must be taken into serious account in order to progress and sustain the ICT business and be fortified through internal and external partnership and the effective use of tacit knowledge to intensify the business performance.