Managing Tacit Knowledge for Productivity among Staff in Selected Academic Libraries in Kenya
Loading...
Date
2025-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Knowledge management is the networked process of efficiently managing a company's resources and knowledge to enable people to develop, innovate, and become more productive. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of tacit knowledge management techniques on productivity within organizations focusing on the selected academic libraries. Explosion of information has become the driver in the quest for new knowledge and has made it apparent that in this age and time, information and knowledge are vital for day-to-day operations, existence and survival in all sectors of life. While it is possible to transport, store or share information without many difficulties, the same cannot be said about management of tacit knowledge. There has been a rise in the number of academic institutions in recent years due to increased demand for university education which has created more job opportunities for librarians. This study focused on 3 academic libraries SEKU university, St. Paul’s university and Strathmore university libraries. The study was guided by research objectives that sought to assess tacit knowledge management policies in academic libraries; management techniques, leadership and organizational culture. A research permit from the National Commission for Science Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) was also obtained that duly authorized the researcher to carry out the study at the respective three selected universities after which questionnaires were administered and interviews conducted with the help of a research assistant. The study used purposeful sampling, from the three libraries and focused on university librarians, heads of sections and a few library staff who had practiced librarianship for a period of time. The target population was fifty-six (56) librarians who included three (3) university librarians, twenty (20) heads of sections and thirty-three (33) library staff. The study employed mixed research methods. 56 librarians made up the sample size, and information was gathered through questionnaires and interview schedules. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27 was used to analyze quantitative data. Tables and charts were utilized throughout the study to present the results as well as narratives for qualitative data. According to the study's findings, some academic libraries favored mentorship, teamwork, and training when it came to the methods used to gather, record, and manage tacit knowledge. The study recommends that academic libraries should engage heavily in tacit knowledge management strategies in order to facilitate institutional culture and leadership that support and encourage tacit knowledge capture, transfer, sharing, documenting, and management in academic libraries.
Description
A Research Project Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement for the Award of the Degree of Master of Library and Information Science in the School of Pure and Applied Sciences of Kenyatta University, June 2025.
Supervisor
Grace Kimani