Knowledges sharing practices among library staff in IIUM Gombak campus library

Abstract

This study focuses on knowledge sharing practices among library staff with special reference to the staff at IIUM Gombak Campus Library. The main aim of the research is to establish whether the library staff are in agreement with regard to knowledge sharing practices and whether there is a need for knowledge management and more specifically for knowledge sharing strategies. Thus, the objective is to establish the extent to which knowledge sharing practices occur among professional library staff in their daily activities. The study employed the quantitative and qualitative research approaches. A questionnaire was developed and delivered in person to the library staff while interviews were conducted with top managers from various divisions of the library. Descriptive analysis and qualitative exploration were employed. The research questions explored knowledge sharing practices, including challenges faced by these library staff. The questions were mostly based on knowledge sharing, information and ideas that include motivating factors, inhibiting factors, methods in enabling the effective practice of knowledge management. General themes such as incentives and barriers towards knowledge sharing were also explored. The results of the study reveal that almost all library staff of IIUM Gombak campus library use the Internet for emailing, texting, voice mailing, etc. as part of their communication channel. Telephone were also used by the library staff. However, face-to-face communication method is considered the easiest and simplest way of communication, and is widely used. The study concludes that knowledge sharing practices involve managerial support and individual creativity. Recommendations on how some of these issues can be addressed are also provided. The researcher therefore proposes a road map that outlines the steps that should be followed to attain a satisfactory level of knowledge sharing at the IIUM Gombak Campus Library as well as an environment where there is open transfer of knowledge from the mentor to the mentee. It is suggested that for this to succeed, senior management would have to support the process of knowledge sharing activities for the IIUM Gombak Campus Library staff. It is further suggested that incentives should be given to staff to ensure effective knowledge sharing.