Tacit Knowledge Management at the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/0027-2639/3776

Keywords:

communities of practice, Kenya, Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA), knowledge, knowledge management, tacit knowledge

Abstract

Tacit knowledge is seen as difficult to be shared in an organisation owing to its intuitive, versatile and practice-based nature. Consequently, tacit knowledge is not well-understood or valued in most organisations and more so in public institutions. The purpose of the study was to investigate how the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) manages tacit knowledge as an intangible asset and also to recommend a framework or model for the management of tacit knowledge for a competitive advantage and development at the KIPPRA. The study adopted a qualitative research approach, with interviews and observation methods constituting the primary data collection methods. The study targeted 60 employees of KIPPRA consisting of researchers, young professionals, heads of divisions, a knowledge manager and administrative staff. The qualitative data collected were organised, categorised and reported verbatim. Among the key findings were that KIPPRA has the capacity for tacit knowledge sharing, capture, transfer and storage that have not been capitalised on. Further, employees experience challenges such as the identification and understanding of tacit knowledge, access to tacit knowledge sharing platforms, access to expertise with specific tacit knowledge, tacit knowledge hoarding, individualism, and ICT-related challenges in accessing tacit knowledge. Finally, the study recommends the adoption of a proposed framework for managing tacit knowledge at the KIPPRA.

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Author Biographies

Omwoyo Bosire Onyancha, University of South Africa

Research Professor: Department of Information Science

Henry Nyabuto Kemoni, Technical University of Kenya

Department of Information and Knowledge Management

Published

2019-02-13

How to Cite

Onyancha, Omwoyo Bosire, Gladys Njeri Mungai, and Henry Nyabuto Kemoni. 2018. “Tacit Knowledge Management at the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis”. Mousaion: South African Journal of Information Studies 36 (1):21 pages. https://doi.org/10.25159/0027-2639/3776.

Issue

Section

Articles
Received 2018-01-20
Accepted 2018-10-19
Published 2019-02-13