KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT TECHNIGUES AND PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN THE SOUTH-EAST OF NIGERIA

This study explored knowledge management (KM) techniques and performance of selected manufacturing firms in the South-East of Nigeria. This study therefore, sought to investigate the relationship between knowledge management techniques and performance in manufacturing firms in South-East of Nigeria. Specifically, the objectives are to; examine the nature of the relationship between knowledge acquisition/sharing; knowledge creation; knowledge retention; knowledge codification/storing and knowledge application/use influence performance of manufacturing firms in the South-East of Nigeria. This study is anchored on the Resource-Based View (RBV) and the Knowledge-Based View (KBV) of the firms. This study employed a descriptive survey approach. The survey method is ideal to find out the relationship between knowledge management and organizational performance in selected manufacturing firms under study. The Population of the study is 2646 employees, obtained from 25 selected manufacturing firms under study. A sample size of 489 was
drawn from the population by the use of Godden’s’ formula for finite population. Thus, a total of 489 copies of the questionnaire were distributed by stratified (random) sampling to the various manufacturing firms under study, out of which 480 were completed and returned; and this represents 98:16% of the total sample size. Questionnaire were administered to the employees of Manufacturing
Firms, in Top, Middle and Lower Management levels respectively. Primary source of data was adopted. The hypotheses of the study were tested by simple and multiple regression analysis, at 0.05 level of significance, through the use of SPSS Computer Package Version 23. The study revealed that there is a strong positive relationship between knowledge acquisition, sharing, retention, codification
and knowledge application and performance of manufacturing firms. Based on the findings of the study, some recommendation were made, which include among others; that manufacturing firms/ managements should enunciate efficient strategies to acquire knowledge from different sources, in order to develop a broader knowledge base; create a conducive environment for knowledge creation, new insights and innovation/idea development; create shared learning experiences, encourage empathic listening and staff collaboration; and to developed strong knowledge-retention programs.