Investigating Knowledge Management Strategies in Central University  Libraries in India

Naushad Ali P.M.; Daud Khan

doi:10.14429/djlit.37.2.10508

Naushad Ali P.M. Department of Library & Information Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh
Daud Khan Department of Library & Information Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/djlit.37.2.10508

Keywords: Knowledge Management, Codification Strategy, Personalization Strategy, Central University, Libraries, India

Abstract

The aim of this research paper is to investigate the knowledge management strategies adopted by the libraries of central universities in India. Review of literature, reveals that codification and personalisation have been considered knowledge management strategies for sharing explicit and tacit knowledge within the library system. To determine the most used knowledge management strategies in libraries, 14 tools (seven each for codification and personalisation) were recognised from the literature review and taken for examination. A total of 116 library and information science professionals of 23 central universities spread across India were surveyed through a web-based questionnaire to explore the knowledge management strategies followed and data analyses were conducted by using SPSS version 22.0. The findings of the research show that both codification and personalisation have been used in libraries, though the balance of codification and personalisation was not in 80-20 ratio. Between codification and personalisation, codification was found to be the most useful strategy with collective mean difference, i.e., 0.312. This study has practical implications for those who are not fully aware of the prominence of knowledge management and how knowledge management strategies can be used to gain a competitive advantage.

Author Biographies

Naushad Ali P.M., Department of Library & Information Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh

Dr P.M. Naushad Ali is presently working as Professor in the Department of Library and Information Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, U.P India. He has over 19 years of teaching and research experience. He has published two books and over 60 research papers in various national and international journals and conference proceedings. He has successfully supervised 7 PhDs, 2 Mphil and more than 60 MLISc project dissertations. He has presented research papers in more than 20 national and international conferences and seminars held in India and abroad. Earlier he has successfully completed 4 research projects funded by Department of Science and Technology (DST), Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and two by University Grants Commission. He is the editor-in-chief of Journal of Knowledge and Communication Management(JKCM). His contribution to the organisation and imparting of knowledge is significant as he has designed and developed a Subject Information Gateway in Information and Technology (http://www.itsubjectgateway.info) and an E-learning portal in Library and Information Science (http://www.lislearning.in). His areas of interest include: Information management, knowledge management, e-learning and e-publishing.

Daud Khan, Department of Library & Information Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh

Mr Daud Khan is a Junior Research Fellow (UGC) at Department of Library and Information Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. He holds BSc (Hons) in Physics and MLISc from the same University. He is pursuing PhD in LIS. He has published six research papers in national and international journals and presented some of his research output in national and international conferences.