Knowledge Repositories for Managing Knowledge in Learning Organizations

Abstract

Learning organizations create a phenomenal amount of scholarly knowledge as part of their academic discourse and research activities. This scholarly knowledge must be preserved and made accessible to other members. The absence of tools and strategies to facilitate the storage and accessibility of knowledge and information resources poses lots of challenges for the growth of learning organizations, particularly, learning organizations in Ghana. This study, therefore, sought to assess the deployment of knowledge repositories in learning organizations toward effective knowledge creation, use, sharing, retention, and retrieval. The study employed the triangulation design and online survey research. The triangulation helped in the collection of quantitative data followed by qualitative instruments (interviews) to find answers to pertinent questions and issues that were insufficiently addressed in the questionnaire responses. Nine (9) learning organizations in Ghana participated in this study. The study established that knowledge repositories and technology played critical roles in managing knowledge in learning organizations. However, the knowledge repositories were not user-friendly and fully utilized or accessible for knowledge management practices at the learning organizations. Also, the absence of fully integrated ICT Tools and Infrastructure inhibited the effective promotion of knowledge management initiatives at the learning organizations. The study concludes by developing a knowledge repository architecture for knowledge management in learning organizations.