Knowledge Retention for Enhanced Organisational Growth in Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

Knowledge retention (KR) is when ideas developed over time in the human brain are retained, for enhanced efficiency and effectiveness of job performance. KR is fundamental in every organisation. KR implies the ways through which the organisations grow, thus resulting in having a competitive advantage other their competitors. Therefore, retaining the individuals that carry diverse expertise in the organisation is important, because it helps to transform the knowledge economy. However, the issues of improper organisation of tasks, loss of experienced employees, the influx of young employees, thus resulting to transfer problem from one department/unit to another, low productivity causing a delay in operational excellence and achievement of timeous job specification, non-viability of the organisation, has made many staff members resign from their present organisation to join other institutions or organisations due to lack of KR. This study investigates KR for enhanced organisational growth in higher education institutions (HEIs). The qualitative research approach made use of the interpretive content analysis. The qualitative survey design made use of an unstructured monkey survey questionnaire in collecting data from respondents across different HEIs in Africa. The purposive and convenient sampling technique selected HEIs across Africa. The rationale behind selecting HEIs across Africa was due to the nature of activities that surrounds KR in transformative organisational growth and the ability to have a quick respondent’s response under the study being investigated. Results indicate that the understanding of KR was not uniform among respondents due to different contexts, fields of expertise, and the nature of work performed. Findings further indicate that KR has helped respondents to create new knowledge, strive to perform tasks in workplace learning, fostered and equipped individuals in their career pursuit, self-development, and deepen research drive. Different mechanism of memorising and keeping short notes, attending different courses, and helping others to solve their problem gives someone the experiences to always remember, and the tools of desktop computers, laptop, tablets, CD-ROM, emails, social media, flash drive, and YouTube are prevalent in support of KR among individuals. Diverse sets of print to electronic sources of information were used to support KR among respondents. Factors such as virus, lack of structures, no specific projects, lack of affirming organisational policy, environmental factors, electricity power supply, and lack of good reading facilities affected the individuals/staff members in their attempt to retain knowledge across sample HEIs. The study recommends attractive income, suitable provision of structure, favourable working environment, self-development opportunities, non-discriminatory treatment to staff, and opened organisational culture, which will enforce staff members to stay and be willing to retain their knowledge/potentials for the organisational growth in HEIs.