Adoption of Knowledge Management Practices for Service Delivery in Selected North-West Nigeria Federal University Libraries
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Date
2019-10
Authors
Fakandu, Muhammed
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Knowledge management practices entail generation, acquisition, organization,
sharing, preservation, applying and re-use of knowledge. In libraries, the practice
aims at improving services and administration. Evidence indicates that university
libraries in Nigeria are facing a series of challenges ranging from lack of
mentorship, reluctant to share knowledge, lack of research collaboration, inadequate
training, seminars among others and the cause of these challenges is not known. The
purpose of this study was to establish whether North-West Nigeria Federal
university libraries have adopted knowledge management practices (KMP) in
acquisition, organization, and sharing and also evaluate the role of information and
communication technology (ICT) in the whole process. The objectives of the study
was to assess the knowledge acquisition, to determine the knowledge organization,
to establish the knowledge sharing and assess the role of ICT in enhancing KM
practices. This study reviewed literature in the area of knowledge acquisition,
organization, sharing and ICT application. It applied descriptive research design and
had a target population of three hundred and ninety-three (393) respondents from the
selected north-west Nigeria university libraries. The sample size of the study was
191 which was calculated using Krejcie and Morgan. Questionnaires and interview
schedules were used for data collection from different categories of librarians in
university libraries. A pilot study was conducted in Gusau University Library and
data analyzed to ensure the validity and reliability of the instruments. Descriptive
statistic methods were used in analyzing the data into tables, frequencies,
percentages, and charts were used for tabulation and presentation. Among the key
findings, were practices amenable to knowledge management were in place in all the
selected university libraries. The acquisition of knowledge was in place, though a lot
were still inclined to explicit knowledge while tacit knowledge was limited.
Knowledge organization was mostly done using classification scheme while expert
based knowledge was not adequately used. A variety of methods were used for
knowledge sharing. Information and communication technology (ICT) were
available and used to support library services. Lack of mentorship service, lack of
management support and research collaboration were major challenges in
knowledge sharing. The study concludes that the adoption of knowledge
management practices in the selected university libraries would not be a challenge as
practices amenable to knowledge management are in place. The study also
recommends the acquisition of tacit knowledge among librarians, the use of expertbased
knowledge to organize knowledge in the library and to improve knowledge
sharing through mentoring services and research collaboration as methods of sharing
knowledge.
Description
A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Doctor of
Philosophy (Information Science) in the School of
Education, Kenyatta University, October, 2019
Keywords
Knowledge Management, Service Delivery, North-West Nigeria, Federal University Libraries