Knowledge management, innovation acceleration and national competitiveness: A systematic review

Jackline M. Martine; Camilius A. Sanga; Philbert S. Nyinondi

doi:10.51867/AQSSR.3.3.3

Auteurs-es

Jackline M. Martine Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania Auteur-e https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0194-3884
Camilius A. Sanga Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania Auteur-e https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8759-431X
Philbert S. Nyinondi Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania Auteur-e https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6526-533X

DOI :

https://doi.org/10.51867/AQSSR.3.3.3

Mots-clés :

Innovation, Knowledge Management, Knowledge Sharing, Organizational Competitiveness, Systematic Literature Review

Résumé

Knowledge management (KM) has increasingly been recognized as a strategic resource for enhancing innovation and competitiveness in modern organizations. In knowledge-driven economies, organizations that effectively create, share, and apply knowledge are better positioned to accelerate innovation and improve their competitive performance. Despite growing interest in this area, existing research on the relationship between knowledge management practices, innovation processes, and national competitiveness remains fragmented across disciplines. This study conducts a systematic literature review to synthesize current knowledge on how KM contributes to innovation acceleration and competitiveness. Knowledge -Based View (KBV) of the firm and the National Innovation Systems (NIS) theory, emphasizes the role of interactions among organizations, university, research institutions and government agencies in generating and diffusing knowledge that supports technological advancement and economic development. The review follows the PRISMA guidelines and analyses peer-reviewed studies published between 2006 and 2023. Relevant articles were identified through structured searches in major academic databases and screened using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of 54 articles were selected and evaluated using a quality assessment checklist. The findings indicate that effective KM practices, particularly knowledge creation, knowledge sharing, and knowledge application, play a critical role in accelerating innovation, improving organizational performance, and strengthening competitiveness. The review further highlights the importance of knowledge-based capabilities in supporting organizational learning and technological advancement within national innovation systems. Synthesizing existing literature, the study provides a clearer understanding of how KM practices influence innovation and competitiveness and identifies key areas for future research on knowledge-driven development and innovation policy. The study recommended structure that encourages cross-functional and platforms designed for collaboration and information sharing can strengthen knowledge flows when they are embedded within cultures of trust.

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