Social media as a knowledge transfer tool for intellectual capital accumulation during the international growth of small firms

Abstract This chapter focuses on an under-researched topic of the role of social media as a knowledge transfer tool for intellectual capital accumulations during international growth. We particularly focus on small firms and based on four case studies of such firms operating in the high-tech (software) sector in Finland, our paper offers interesting insights. Firstly, we find distinct elements and functions associated with different social media platforms in relation to intellectual capital accumulation and knowledge transfer. We further found that different elements of intellectual capital (human capital, relational capital and structural capital) have varying influences on knowledge transfer in the firms visible by their role in different organization functions. Finally, along with knowledge transfer, these elements of intellectual capital also offer different and unique strengths (opportunities) for small firms during their international growth journey