Magister Library and Information Studies - MLIS / This study investigated knowledge sharing (KS) practices at the Zimbabwe Open University
(ZOU) in Zimbabwe. The study assessed the knowledge sharing practices in the ZOU
regional campus faculty departments and identified gaps, with the aim to find out how
knowledge is being managed, shared in an Open and distance learning institution and if
knowledge management (KM) is playing a role.
The quantitative study was undertaken at the 10 regional campuses of the Zimbabwe Open
University. A questionnaire survey was carried out to collect data from a sample of 100
academic staff in the 10 Regional Centres. The underlying question was whether the
university academic members were aware of the knowledge that exists, how this knowledge
is created and, shared and flows in the organization. The study also sought to establish the
views of academic staff, on the benefits that can be reaped from KM practices. The study
confirmed that there is willingness to engage in knowledge sharing activities. However, the
lack of a clear knowledge policy negatively impacts on the university’s ability to
competitively position itself in the knowledge economy as a knowledge driven university and
this impacts research productivity and distance learning course delivery at the ZOU. One of
the key recommendations emanating from this research is that the university should have a
Knowledge policy aligned to its strategic plan which will act as a guideline on the sharing of
knowledge internally and externally as well as make it mandatory for academic staff to
publish internally as well as to store their publications in the university repository.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uwc/oai:etd.uwc.ac.za:11394/6426 |
| Date | January 2018 |
| Creators | Chikono, Albert Nhawo |
| Contributors | Davis, G.R. |
| Publisher | University of the Western Cape |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | University of the Western Cape |
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