Improving knowledge sharing capabilities of organizations : a case study of ReStral Nigeria Limited

The focus of this study is on how organizations can improve on knowledge management in order to enhance flow of work and productivity. We have chosen ReStral Nigeria Limited, a management consultancy firm, as a case study. We chose this company, firstly because our focus is on Nigeria; secondly, because of the company’s knowledge management capability. Davenport and Prusak posits that the “potential for new ideas arising from the stock of knowledge in any firm is practically limitless – particularly if the people in the firm are given opportunities to think, to learn, and to talk with one another” (Davenport and Prusak 2000:17). Creating an organizational atmosphere of thinking, learning and talking with the employees improves organizational knowledge repositories, thereby improving the organization’s ability to expand on the available knowledge and sustaining its competitive advantage. In chapter one of this thesis, we intend to explore a variety of opinion on the concept of Knowledge management, and knowledge sharing within organizations and groups, as well as expectations of management in pursuing its success within a firm. The second chapter of this thesis will present research questions, and methodology to be employed in answering these questions. Chapter three will look at activities of ReStral Nigeria Limited with a case study built around the company’s knowledge sharing processes. We will then try to answer our research questions by considering the methods employed by ReStral Nigeria Limited in implementing a change to their knowledge management processes, and how their experience can influence other Nigerian companies to take advantage of knowledge sharing to create and sustain their competitive advantage. Inference about our findings will be made in chapter four, following which, recommendations will be made in chapter five to conclude this study