Knowledge Sharing Among Employees of Mesfin Industrial Engineering
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Date
2011-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Knowledge has been recognized as an important asset for sustaining competitive
advantage. Recently, organizations, such as those in academics and business are turning
to the use of the intangible intellectual source of economy, which is knowledge, in order
to be competitive over the world. Therefore, to be competing needs to acquire, utilize and
share knowledge. Sharing knowledge is the main backbone of knowledge management,
because having knowledge is meaningless unless it is shared and allowed it to be used by
others.
The study investigated the knowledge sharing culture among employees of Mesfin
Industrial Engineering (MIE). In addition, the study identified factors that affect
knowledge sharing and mechanisms of knowledge sharing in the organization. Finally,
the study came up with the possible models of knowledge sharing which could enhance
the performance of the organization.
Mixed method of data collection, which employs both quantitative and qualitative
methods, was used from March to April 2011. A self-administered questionnaire was
distributed to a total of 180 employees in the organization. The data was cleaned, coded
and fed to SPSS Version 16.0 and was analyzed using t-value and factor analysis.
The findings show that males understand and practice knowledge sharing better. And,
employees between the ages of 25 and 34 and with an education level of bachelor’s
degree understand knowledge sharing in the organization better. The result also shows, IT
infrastructures, personal benefits, management problems, attitude and willingness of
individuals, skills and knowledge storage mechanisms are the critical factors that affect
knowledge sharing in the organization.
The study concludes that, since knowledge sharing is very important for organizations to
enhance their performance, top managers should give value to it and they have to link it
with rewards, recognitions and some benefits that motivate the employees to share their
knowledge.
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Knowledge Sharing