How do Organisational Characteristics Relate with Use of Knowledge Management Systems?

Abstract

This study sought to establish levels of use of knowledge management systems (KMS) by Masters students in the College of Education and External Studies in Makerere University and to link the same to characteristics related to a given respondent's organisation of employment, namely ability to absorb change, KMS culture, size and leader's KMS change management style. The study involved 60 students who responded to a questionnaire. Data analysis, involving summary statistics and multiple regression, indicated low levels of use of KMS, but none of the four organizational characteristics was a significant correlate of the same. It was thus recommended that stakeholders such as the Makerere University Directorate of ICT Support provide equal treatment such as exposure and/ or training to all of them irrespective of differentials in their organizations of origin.

A call for Return to Rogers’ Innovation Diffusion Theory

“…However, there are studies that discounted RFC as a correlate of innovation adoption (e.g. Bakkabulindi, 2012). Thus, because of the conflicting findings, future researchers are called upon to continue testing the hypothesis that organisational readiness for change (RFC) is positively correlated with the adoption of innovations.…”

“…Studies in support of the hypothesis aside, there are studies that totally dismissed the hypothesis to the effect that OC is a correlate of innovation adoption (e.g. Bakkabulindi, 2012). The conflicting results of the studies cited imply that the following hypothesis is still calling for the attention of future researchers: organisational ICT culture is positively correlated with adoption of innovations.…”