School of Information and Communication Studies
http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/886
2024-03-25T02:55:53ZMANAGEMENT OF TACIT KNOWLEDGE FOR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE AT INSURANCE REGULATORY AUTHORITY (IRA), NAIROBI, KENYA
http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1967
MANAGEMENT OF TACIT KNOWLEDGE FOR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE AT INSURANCE REGULATORY AUTHORITY (IRA), NAIROBI, KENYA
MUTUKU, THERESIA
An organization's ability to sustain a long-lasting competitive advantage is brought about by the appropriate management of tacit knowledge. This study purposed to examine ways in which tacit knowledge is managed at IRA, Nairobi, Kenya as well as examine its challenges. The study gives recommendations that if applied can competitive advantage for IRA. The study’s specific objectives were; to establish the sources of tacit knowledge at IRA Nairobi, Kenya, to determine the management's responsibility in establishing a favourable atmosphere for tacit KM in order to bring about a competitive advantage at IRA, Nairobi, Kenya, to assess ways in which tacit knowledge management is applied at IRA Nairobi, Kenya in order to bring competitive advantage, to examine the challenges encountered and give recommendations in the management of tacit knowledge for competitive advantage at IRA, Nairobi, Kenya. This study was informed by the Knowledge Conversion Theory – Socialization, Externalization, Combination and Internalization (SECI). The research employed a qualitative research method. An exploratory case design was applied to understand the phenomenon and an interpretivist philosophical world view was adopted by the researcher. The target population was 85 members of staff at IRA out of which a sample of 43 was drawn using purposive criterion sampling. Data was collected using face to face interviews and reported in verbatim. NVivo version 12 software program was used for the analysis of the study and the findings presented in terms of figures and charts. The research revealed that tacit knowledge management practices are implemented at IRA to some extent. Different sources of tacit knowledge management were identified, majority being held by the staff members. Further, it was established that the management supports knowledge management initiatives in the organization. Through tacit knowledge management, the organization has acquired a competitive advantage over other firms thereby demonstrating the importance of tacit knowledge to a firm. Despite these, the research established that there were some challenges facing tacit knowledge management in the organization. These included lack of commitment from staff and lack of a policy. The study recommends a structured way of tacit knowledge management, involvement of staff in tacit knowledge management and having proper policies for managing tacit knowledge, among other strategies. This study is also relevant for government such as parastatals in the management of the rich tacit knowledge within their organizations as it reiterates the importance of the same
2022-11-01T00:00:00ZA STUDY OF THE UNDERGRADUATE RECORDS MANAGEMENT CURRICULUM AND THE LABOUR MARKET IN KENYA: A CASE OF MOI AND KENYATTA UNIVERSITIES
http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1966
A STUDY OF THE UNDERGRADUATE RECORDS MANAGEMENT CURRICULUM AND THE LABOUR MARKET IN KENYA: A CASE OF MOI AND KENYATTA UNIVERSITIES
MAGAWI, SILAS
There is a link between the content of Records Management curricula in Kenyan universities and the Records Management labour market in Kenya. Employers’ input and review of the institution’s curriculum typically produce better skilled, more knowledgeable employees who have a greater potential to succeed once they leave universities. This research aimed to identify the relevance of the undergraduate records management curriculum at Kenyatta University and Moi University to the labour market in Kenya as this is the education level that shapes up most professionals’ career paths. The challenge of the high unemployment rate among Kenyans in general as thousands of graduates come out of universities each year also motivated this research. The objectives included identifying the link between the undergraduate records management curriculum and the labour market in Kenya, exploring the evolving changes in the responsibilities of record managers in Kenya, examining the relevance of the records management training at Moi University and Kenyatta University to the labour market in Kenya and making recommendations on the records management curriculum at Moi University and Kenyatta University. The contextual set-up of the study was Kenyan universities and narrowed down to universities offering records management at the undergraduate level and online job listing sites in Kenya. The research employed mixed methods of both quantitative and qualitative methods of research. The target population of the research were graduates of, and current chairpersons of records management departments of Moi University and Kenyatta University. The sample included 66 graduates of records management and 2 heads of records management departments. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences and Atlas.ti and presented in tables, diagrams and graphs. The research revealed that there is a mismatch between the records management curriculum offered and the market demands. This mismatch was attributed to several factors, the main ones being the theoretical nature of studies as well as the impact of Information Communication Technology in records management. The research further revealed that there is minimal consultation between the Universities and the market in curriculum review and that records management is not as popular in the Kenyan labour market. The study recommended having programs that bring the various stakeholders together, regular curriculum reviews and integration of Information Communication Technology in records management. These findings could be used by local universities, Commission for University Education and employers in charting the way forward regarding records management as a profession
2022-11-01T00:00:00ZTHE ROLE OF LIBRARIANS AND FACULTY IN PREVENTING PLAGIARISM AMONG STUDENTS AT STRATHMORE UNIVERSITY
http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1963
THE ROLE OF LIBRARIANS AND FACULTY IN PREVENTING PLAGIARISM AMONG STUDENTS AT STRATHMORE UNIVERSITY
IMBAYI, NEEMA
There is a growing concern over the rising incidences of plagiarism among students in institutions of higher learning both in Kenya and globally from the reports extracted using the similarity checker softwares on final submission of reseachers’ work. Evidence of plagiarism is often uncovered by both the faculty when reviewing students’ works and by librarians in the process of preparing such works for archival in institutional repositories. This study aimed at investigating the role of librarians and faculty in preventing plagiarism among students and proposes a framework for harmonization of various role at Strathmore University (SU), in Nairobi, Kenya. The specific objectives were to: examine the nature and extent of plagiarism in academic research at SU; investigate the influence of the internet on plagiarism; identify the challenges encountered by librarians and faculty while enforcing anti-plagiarism regulations at SU; and propose a framework for harmonizing the role of librarians and faculty in preventing plagiarism among students at SU. The General Theory of Deterrence (GTD) underpinned this study. This study applied the convergent mixed methods research design. Purposive sampling was used to select respondents from students, faculty and administrators, while census sampling was used for all librarians. The study population was 472. A sample of 189 respondents was drawn from the 4th year undergraduate and 2nd year postgraduate students, the faculty members, Directors of Research & Innovation and the main university library staff. Qualitative data was collected using interviews and quantitative data through questionnaires and analysed using ATLAS.ti software and SPSS software respectively. The study revealed four main forms of plagiarism including unintentional, casual, intentional and self-plagiarism which are committed via CTRL-C, Find-replace and recycling methods. Second, that the availability of the internet and the campus WI-FI and alternative connectivity options (such as use of data bundles), e-resources and negative use of electronic devices have fuelled plagiarism. Third, that the challenges faced by the librarians and faculty in preventing plagiarism included a lack of clear institutional policies on plagiarism, clarity on the role for all players involved, and lenient penalties for plagiarists. This study recommends strategies like collaboration, training and policy adoption as ways of tackling the challenge. It further proposes a framework for harmonizing the role of librarians and faculty as one way of preventing plagiarism at the SU.
2023-11-01T00:00:00ZENHANCING SERVICE QUALITY FOR LIBRARY USER SATISFACTION AT THE COLLEGE OF INSURANCE NAIROBI, KENYA
http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1958
ENHANCING SERVICE QUALITY FOR LIBRARY USER SATISFACTION AT THE COLLEGE OF INSURANCE NAIROBI, KENYA
MUSANYA, CELESTINE
Satisfaction for library users has been a concern of researchers and practitioners alike in the library and information sciences field. For academic libraries to succeed in supporting effective teaching, research and learning missions, they must become more user-focused in delivering their services. The study aimed to investigate service quality for user satisfaction at The College of Insurance Library in Nairobi, Kenya, and recommend strategies that can be used to enhance it. The specific objectives of the study were to; Establish the services offered at the College of Insurance Library; Determine the level of service quality at the College of Insurance Library; Examine whether there exist relationships between service quality and library user satisfaction at the College of Insurance Library; Determine the challenges faced in the provision of quality information services and propose strategies to enhance the quality of services at the College of Insurance Library. The Value Expectancy Theory, Assimilation Contrast theory, and SERVQUAL and LibQUAL+™ Instruments informed the study. The study employed convergent mixed methods approach methodology. The target population was 1660, including 1500 students, 155 academic staff and five library staff, of which a sample of 433 was selected, which comprised 316 users (students), 112 academic staff and five librarians. A purposive sampling technique was used to determine all the library staff. Simple Random sampling was used to select academic staff and students. Qualitative data was collected through semi structured face-to-face interviews and analysed using thematic analysis, while quantitative data was collected through questionnaires and analysed using SPSS 21. The findings indicated that: The College of Insurance Library offered inadequate services; the service quality was average, and finally, the study established customer relations from the staff. The study concluded that the library should listen to its users and use the feedback to improve service quality. It further recommends staff training and motivation, increased working hours, the need for more library staff, enhanced security and constant evaluation of the services. This study contributes to the existing studies examining service quality and library user satisfaction, and its empirical results may be helpful to the College of Insurance Library management in helping to bridge service quality gaps.
2022-11-01T00:00:00Z