Investigating engineering knowledge management as a foundation for capability development at Engen Refinery.
Loading...
Date
2016
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This research was completed in the area of knowledge management as it was deemed to be a crucial success factor for engineering competency development at Engen Refinery. The research conducted was qualitative in nature, utilising a phenomenological approach. The dissertation is structured around three foundational objectives aligned to personal knowledge management, organisational knowledge management and communities of practice.
Within the paradigm of personal knowledge management, when comparing the findings from primary and secondary research it was noted that a structure was lacking within Engen from which both individuals and the organisation could base its PKM development
An analysis of the findings for organisational knowledge management approaches, highlighted that the alignment between individual and organisations goals needs to be understood in terms of the correct manner in which leadership attempt to manage knowledge from an organisation wide knowledge strategy.
Although the major finding from the primary research was the applicability of the COP towards ACD gap closure, it was deemed that there were currently too many barriers to knowledge sharing for a COP to be a suitable approach at Engen. The recommendation for implementation within a community perspective is for the organisation to follow the knowledge ecology concept in terms of structure.
The recommendations from this research presents four proposed strategies to which implementation would require a focus on individual PKM approaches, organisational PKM approaches, OKM approaches and lastly a knowledge ecology approach to COPs.
Description
Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2016.