Drivers and challenges of tacit knowledge sharing in automotive workshop employees
VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems
ISSN: 2059-5891
Article publication date: 19 October 2020
Issue publication date: 11 January 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the way tacit knowledge (TK) sharing occurred among automotive workshop (AW) employees. Challenges and drivers of TK sharing (TKS), including stakes of experienced employees that hinder the smooth transfer of TK, have been explored.
Design/methodology/approach
In-depth interviews have been conducted with experienced technicians using open-ended questions to gain deep insights on the issue of TKS. Data coding has been done for thematic analysis to extract themes.
Findings
This study explains the way TK is shared and transferred among employees in the AW sector. Various drivers and challenges in the smooth transfer of TK have been found. Various stakes of employees in the sharing of TK have been explored.
Originality/value
To the best of authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that explored stakes of experienced employees in TKS by exploring challenges in the TKS process among employees. Automotive repair is a complicated technical job that integrates various trade persons for the successful execution of jobs for customer satisfaction. TK is a core value and a sensitive issue among employees, which makes the job of researchers challenging, resulting scarcity of literature on this vital issue.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful to Mr Umar Akram and Mr Muhammad Akram owners of Akram Auto Engineers (automotive machining workshop based in Faisalabad) for their selfless and relentless support in all phases of this research study. Unsaid cognitive status quo generally hinder people in sharing such professional issues that have been explored in this study. The cheerfulness and concern to share facts by both for extending the knowledge base are admirable. We are also thankful to all participants who devotedly engaged themselves in sharing their views and experiences for this research study.
Citation
Alam, M.Z., Kousar, S., Shafqat, N. and Shabbir, A. (2022), "Drivers and challenges of tacit knowledge sharing in automotive workshop employees", VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems, Vol. 52 No. 1, pp. 71-86. https://doi.org/10.1108/VJIKMS-04-2020-0058
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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