| dc.description.abstract | In the fast changing business environment, knowledge has become the mainstay of every
organization in creating sustainable competitiveness. This study sought to investigate drivers of
implementing Knowledge Management Systems (KMS), challenges faced during the process as
well as the strategies that can be put into place to overcome these challenges. The study adopted
a descriptive survey approach with a target population of all ICT consultancy firms established
in Nairobi. The researcher took a purposive sample to select a sample of 30 ICT firms that have
implemented Knowledge management Systems in various organizations. The targeted
respondents were ICT heads and system developers. Primary data was collected using selfadministered
questionnaires from these respondents. The respondents’ gender, age, profession,
years of experience and firms’ years of operation were analyzed using descriptive statistics
(frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations) and cross tabulation. The drivers,
challenges and strategies of Knowledge Management Systems implementation were also
analyzed using descriptive statistics and factor analysis. The study indicated that ICT consulting
firms in Nairobi conduct KMS implementation as well as other ICT solutions. From the
response, the majority of the employees in these ICT consultancy firms are aged between 26-30
years of age with fewer female respondents at 37.5 % as compared to male who were 62.5 %.
Further, the study showed that most of these employees were degree and masters holders
indicating high literacy levels in the field of KMS implementation. A cross tabulation of level
of education respondents & years of firm in consultancy indicates that firms that are new in the
industry have employed more degree holders as compared to the ones that have been in the
industry for long. The findings also indicated that there are driving factors that lead
organizations into implementing KMS. These included the need to create and sustain
competitive advantage, presence of Information Technology infrastructure, need to create
innovation and leverage best practices as the key drivers. The study also revealed that this
procedure faces challenges such as insufficient funding of Knowledge Management projects,
knowledge loss through high turnover and lack of a knowledge sharing culture. To overcome
these challenges, the findings also indicated that there are strategies that can be put in place
which included provision of technical and organizational infrastructure, training the employees
on the use information technology, management to provide a work environment where
employees meet to share ideas and provision of lessons on the benefits of KMS to the
management. | en |
