Factors Affecting Knowledge Sharing in Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU) By Raey Zewdie Tirfie June 2018 Addis Ababa,
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Date
2018-06-03
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
In today’s globalized economy knowledge becomes the most important intellectual resource in public service organization that has to be shared. Public organizations without KS could not achieve their goals and objectives. However, the past findings show that KS in organization can be affected by different factors. In other words, effective KS among employees in public institutions becomes a significant management challenge for providing excellent government service to customers at all levels. EEU is rehiring the retired staffs which signifies that the institution is not retaining these individuals’ knowledge. In addition to this, EEU is outsourcing its major functions in search of others’ expertise to fill its knowledge gaps which is again might be the obscene of knowledge retention. Therefore, whether knowledge sharing does really exist in EEU and factors affecting the practice are yet to be known.
Thus, this study was intended to identify factors affecting KS in order to improve KS practice and then make sure knowledge retention in EEU. To meet this objective, the study set up two research questions. These are: i) Factors impacting KS practice ii) KS mechanisms implemented in EEU. Regarding to the methodology, the research followed a correlational study to examine the presence of association between KS practice and KS factors (Individual, Organizational, NOK and Technological). The data instrument was closed-end self-administered questions and semi-structured face-to-face one-to-one guide for interview.
In the case of sampling technique, a proportionate stratified random sampling technique followed by a systematic random sampling method was used for the quantitative study and a purposive sampling method for interview. Then, Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlation analysis methods were used to understand the presence and degree of association between KS factors and KS practice variable. To meet this, thirteen alternative hypotheses were claimed and quizzed the association of the above study variables. A population Null hypothesis (HO) testing method used as a verification or rejection to all study’s premises. Moreover, one factor MANOVA analysis was also done to insight the impact of independent variables on dependent variables. Finally, the Qualitative data was grouped in to seven thematic areas and analyzed as proper in text.
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The study indicates that Trust and Job Satisfaction from Individual dimension, Structure, Culture, Rewards and Recognitions from Organizational dimension, complexity and Tacitness from NOK, ICT infrastructure, ICT know-how and ICT Tools type from Technological dimension have association with KS practice in EEU. Except employees’ awareness, Office Layout and personality, all the remaining KS factors have a significant positive influence on KS practice in EEU that spans from very weak to moderate. The MANOVA findings also reaffirm this statement that Trust, Job Satisfaction, Structure, Culture, Work Process, Rewards and Recognitions, NOK, ICT Infrastructure, ICT Know-How are factors that influence KS practice in EEU.
EEU uses training, meeting, email, storytelling and direct observation to share knowledge though KS practice is a real challenge for it. However, EEU does not use even these KS mechanisms in a regular base and systemic way to facilitate KS activities among employees. About 60% of the respondents ratify that EEU does not retain knowledge from skilled and experienced staffs before they leave the office. The interviewees also confirmed that EEU is rehiring the retired staffs to get their knowledge invariably due to lack of strategy or system intended for knowledge retention.
This study contributes important findings to be considered by decision-making bodies at EEU to improve KS activities and knowledge retention. Therefore, EEU can establish secession plan to retain knowledge, implement motivational scheme for employees involved in due of KS and invest on ICT infrastructure intended and suitable for KS with a feature of capturing, storing and disseminating. Then, increase its employees’ ICT know-How to enable them capable in use of the ICT infrastructure effectively.
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Keywords
Knowledge, Knowledge Management, Knowledge sharing, Factors affecting Knowledge sharing, Knowledge Retention