KNOWLEDGE SHARING IN ECOPRINT SMES: INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

This study explores the lived experience of knowledge sharing among ecoprint
artisans in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, and its implications for innovation and
sustainability in creative small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Using a
phenomenological approach, in-depth interviews and participant observations
were conducted with local artisans to uncover how tacit and explicit knowledge
are exchanged and interpreted within their communities of practice. The findings
reveal that ecoprint knowledge is predominantly tacit and embodied, transmitted
through observation, imitation, and shared experience rather than formal
documentation. Knowledge sharing occurs within strong community networks
grounded in trust and solidarity, facilitated by both physical workshops and digital
platforms. Openness in sharing—especially of failures—acts as a catalyst for
collective innovation, while the process itself reinforces environmental, economic,
and cultural sustainability. This research contributes to extending knowledge
management theory beyond corporate settings by demonstrating that in creative,
sustainability-oriented SMEs, knowledge sharing functions not merely as a
managerial process but as an ethical, communal, and generative practice that
sustains both innovation and heritage.