Knowledge management capability and organizational memory: a study of public sector agencies
International Journal of Public Sector Management
ISSN: 0951-3558
Article publication date: 28 August 2019
Issue publication date: 3 September 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore organizational memory (OM) in three public agencies in a developing country context. Research suggests that knowledge management (KM) can build a nation’s intellectual capital and improve the effectiveness of public sector management. Therefore, how knowledge is preserved is important.
Design/methodology/approach
The study targeted three large public institutions in Ghana. The study used a survey of 756 individuals in managerial and operational level positions in institutions to test the hypotheses in the study.
Findings
The findings confirm that knowledge management capability (KMC) has a positive and significant impact on OM. Knowledge acquisition and retention capabilities, in particular, are critical variables in building OM.
Research limitations/implications
The research relied on self-reports and so one cannot completely rule out social desirability and consistency biases. Using cross-sectional data also makes it difficult to make inferences about the causality.
Practical implications
Public agencies desirous of building their OM will need to build critical KMC and infrastructure.
Originality/value
This paper links KMC to OM in public institutions in an emerging country context.
Keywords
Citation
Adobor, H., Kudonoo, E. and Daneshfar, A. (2019), "Knowledge management capability and organizational memory: a study of public sector agencies", International Journal of Public Sector Management, Vol. 32 No. 6, pp. 671-687. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPSM-10-2018-0225
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited