The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between organizational factors and knowledge management applications to user-centred services in federal university libraries in Nigeria. The population of the study consisted of 26 federal university libraries in Nigeria with 450 professional librarians. A questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. This research instrument was pretested for reliability using Cronbach alpha procedure. A total of 450 copies of the questionnaires were distributed to the respondents. Of these, 350 questionnaires were completed and returned, thereby accounting for a response rate of approximately 78%. Descriptive and inferential analyses of data were achieved using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings revealed that knowledge management applications were more focused on knowledge identification and acquisition than on knowledge creation and dissemination. The findings also revealed that top management leadership and collaboration were the strongest of the organizational factors, and they correlated significantly with knowledge management applications to user-centred services. Other factors such as human resources policy and compensation schemes had both low and non-significant correlation with knowledge management applications. Both top management leadership and collaboration had significant relationships with knowledge management applications. It is, therefore, recommended that a knowledge management strategic action plan be developed for the federal university libraries in Nigeria.
Ah-AmadH (2003) University of Jordan Library Services. In: DrakeMA (ed.) Encyclopaedia of Library and Information Science. 2nd edn.New York: CRC, pp. 2926–2928.
2.
AjiferukeI (2005) Role of Information Professionals in Knowledge Management Programme: Empirical Evidence from Canada. Available at: http://inform.nu/Articles/Vol6/v6p247-257.pdf (accessed 5 November 2008).
3.
AlaviMLeidnerDE (2001). Review: Knowledge management and knowledge management systems: Conceptual Foundations and Research Issues. MIS Quarterly25(1): 107–136.
4.
AlegbeleyeB (2010) Old wine in new bottle: A critical analysis of the relationship between knowledge management and library and information science. In: 48th National conference and annual general meeting of the Nigeria Library Association. Abuja: NLA.
BouthillierFShearerK (2002) Understanding knowledge management and information management: The need for an empirical perspective. Information Research8(1): 165–185.
EdemNBAniO (2010) Knowledge management in academic libraries in Nigeria. In: 48th National conference and annual general meeting of the Nigerian Library Association, pp. 102–109. Abuja: NLA.
20.
EkereFCUgwuCIEkereJN (2014) Knowledge management roles of librarians for transformative user-centred services in University of Nigeria, Nsukka Library. International Journal of Information and Communication Technology11(1):1–13.
21.
EzeaniCNUgwuCIOziokoRE (2008) Libraries as knowledge managers in the global library and information services: Empirical evidence from libraries in South-Eastern Nigeria. In: Library without borders: Globalization of library and information services: 46th National conference and annual general meeting of the Nigerian Library Association, pp. 93–104. Ibadan: NLA.
22.
GalaganP (1997) Smart companies. Training and Development51(12): 20–25.
23.
GliemJAGliemRR (2003) Calculating, interpreting and reporting Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient for Likert-type scales. In: Midwest research to practice conference in adult, continuing and community education, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
HandzicM (2001) Knowledge management: A research framework. In: 2nd European conference on knowledge management (ECKM) (ed. RemenyiD), Bled, Slovenia, 8–9 November 2001, pp.35–42.
26.
HarboKHansenT (2012) Getting to know the users’ need: Experimental ways to user-centred service innovation. Library Quarterly21(3/4): 367–385.
27.
HasanaliF (2002) Critical Success Factors of Knowledge Management. Available at: http://www.apgc.org/free/articles (accessed 5 November 2009).
28.
HeroSJ (1998) The impact of merging academic libraries and computer centres for user services. Unpublished PhD Dissertation, Minnesota State University, Mankato, USA.
29.
HolowetzkiA (2002) The Relationship between Knowledge Management and Organizational Culture: An Examination of Cultural Factors that Support the Flow and Management of Knowledge within an Organization. Available at: http://aim.uoregon.edu/research/pdfs/Holowetzki2002.pdf (accessed 28 October 2008).
30.
HolsappleCWJoshiKD (2000) An investigation of factors that influence the management of knowledge in organizations. Journal of Strategic Information Systems9(2/3): 253–261.
31.
HuangLSQuaddusMRoweALet al (2011) An investigation into the factors affecting knowledge management adoption and practice in the life insurance business. Knowledge Management Research & Practice9(1): 58–72.
32.
HuberGP (2001) Transfer of knowledge in knowledge management systems: Unexpected issues and suggested studies. European Journal of Information Systems10: 72–79.
33.
HurleyRHultT (1998) Innovation, market orientation and organizational learning: An integration and empirical examination. Journal of Marketing62(3): 42–54.
34.
IfidonBI (2000) Management problems in Readers’ Services: The Nigerian experience. Archive10(1/2): 23–34.
IgboUHImoNT (2011) Challenge of accessibility of information resources by the postgraduate library users of a Nigerian University. Information Technology: An International Journal of information and Communication Technology7(2): 1–5.
37.
International Labour Organization (ILO) (2004) Knowledge management at the International Labour Organization. Geneva: International Labour Organization.
38.
JainP (2007) An empirical study of knowledge management in academic libraries in East and Southern Africa. Library Review56(5): 377–392.
39.
JalaldeenRKarimNSAMohamedN (2008) Organizational readiness and its contributing factors to adopt KM processes: A conceptual model. Communications of the Informational Business Information Management Association (IBIMA)8(7). Available at: http://www.ibima.org/pub/journal/(IBIMA/Volume8/v8n17.pdf. (accessed 26 February 2008).
KingWR (2000) Playing an integral role in knowledge management. Information System Management17(4): 59–61.
42.
KlugeJSteinWLichtT (2001) Knowledge Unplugged: The McKinsey& Company Survey on Knowledge Management. New York: Palgrave.
43.
KuhlthauCC (2004) Seeking Meaning: A Process Approach on Library and Information Services. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited.
44.
LeeHChoiB (2003) Knowledge management enablers, processes and organizational performance: An integrative view and empirical examination. Journal of Management Information Systems20(1):179–228.
LeonardD (1999) Wellsprings of Knowledge: Building and Sustaining the Source of Innovation. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.
48.
LimDKlobasJ (2000) Knowledge management in small enterprises:The Electronic Library18(6): 420–432.
49.
MabawonkuI (2004) Library use in distance learning: A survey of undergraduates in three Nigerian universities. African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science14(2): 61–72.
50.
Magnier-WatanabeRBentonCSenooD (2011) A study of knowledge management enablers across countries. Knowledge Management Research & Practice9(1): 17–28.
MorrisRCT (1994) Towards a user-centred information service. Journal of American Society for Information Science45(1): 20–30.
56.
National Universities Commission (2007) Higher Educational Institutions in Nigeria. Available at: http://www.nuc.edu.ng (accesses 27 September 2007).
57.
NidumoluSRKnottsGW (1998) The effects of customizability and re-usability on perceived process and competitive performance of software firms. MIS Quarterly22(2): 105–137.
58.
NonakaI (1991) The knowledge-creating company. Harvard Business Review69(6): 96–104.
59.
NonakaITakeuchiH (1995) The Knowledge-Creating Company: How Japanese Companies Create the Dynamics of Innovation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
O’DellCGraysonC (1998) If only we knew what we know: Identification and transfer of internal best practices. California Management Review40(3): 154–174.
62.
OkunoyeAO (2003) Knowledge Management and Global Diversity: A Framework to Support Organization in Developing Countries. Finland: University of Turku.
63.
OlsenHK (2012)Research group librarian: A cooperating partner in research?Liber Quarterly22(3): 190–212.
64.
Oluic-VukovicV (2001) From information to knowledge: Some reflections on origin of the current shifting towards knowledge processing and further perspective. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology5(1): 54–61.
65.
OnyanchaOBMalulekeJR (2011) Knowledge production through collaborative research in Sub-Saharan Africa: How much do countries contribute to each other’s knowledge outputs and citation impact?Scientometrics87(2): 315–336.
66.
OnyanchaOBOchollaDN (2009) Conceptualizing knowledge management in the context of library and information science. In: ISSI 2009: 12th international conference of the International Society for Scientometrics and Informetrics (eds LarsenBLetaJ), Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, pp. 431–442.
67.
OziokoREEzeaniCNUgwuCI (2008) Knowledge management competencies needed by librarians for effective library services in the information age. In: International conference organized by the Faculty of Education University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria, 17–21 June 2008.
68.
ParirokhMDaneshgarFFattahiR (2006) Knowledge sharing capabilities in today’s university libraries. In: World library and information congress: 72nd IFLA general conference and council, Korea, 20–24 August 2006.
RooiH VanSnymanR (2006) A Content Analysis of Literature Regarding Knowledge Management Opportunities for Libraries. Available at: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid (accessed 28 October 2008).
71.
RosmainiTWoodsPC (2007) Relationship between corporate knowledge management and firm’s innovation capability. International Journal of Technology and Management8(1): 62–79.
Syed-IkhsanSOSRowlandT (2004) Knowledge management in a public organization: A study on the relationship between organizational elements and the performance of knowledge transfer. Journal of Knowledge Management8(2): 95–111.
TownleyCT (2001) Knowledge management and academic libraries. College and Research Libraries62(1): 44–55.
82.
UgwuCIIdokoNAEnemFN (2013) University libraries, knowledge management and higher education in digital environment: The synergistic relationship. In: 12th Annual conference/annual general meeting of the Nigerian Library Association, Enugu State Chapter, 5–9 November 2013.
83.
Von KroghG (1998) Care in knowledge creation. California Management Review40(3): 133–153.
84.
WangTP (2002) Analysis of knowledge management and corporate efficiencies in high-tech industries. Master’s Thesis, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Taiwan.
85.
WhiteT (2004) Knowledge Management in an Academic Library, Case Study: KM within Oxford University Library Services (OULS). Available at: http://www.ifla.org/iv/ifla70/papers/089e-white.pedf (accessed 24 May 2008).
WilliamsRS (2002) Managing Employee Performance: Design and Implementation in Organizations. London: Thompson Learning.
88.
ZackMH (1999) Knowledge and Strategy. Boston, MA: Butterworth and Heinemann.
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
