EFFECT OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT ENABLERS ON PERFORMANCE OF MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN KENYA: A CASE OF MARS WRIGLEY CONFECTIONERY
Francis Mbuvi Muema - Master of Business Administration (Strategic Management), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
Dr. Jared Deya - Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture And Technology, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Knowledge management enables organizations to gain insight and understanding from its own experience and procedures. Knowledge management enabler has been identified as a key component in improving organizational performance and sustaining an organization in today’s competitive business world. This study aims at investigating how knowledge management enablers affect the performance of manufacturing sector specifically Kenyan based manufacturing company Mars Wrigley Confectionery. The study was guided by the following specific objectives; to investigate the effect of organizational information infrastructure on performance of Mars Wrigley Confectionery; to assess the effect of organizational culture on performance of Mars Wrigley Confectionery; to examine how knowledge management strategy affects the performance of Mars Wrigley Confectionery; and to investigate the effect that leadership has on the performance at Mars Wrigley Confectionery. The study was guided by four theories: technology acceptance model, contingency theory, Durkheim’s Theory of culture and the Organizational knowledge conversion theory. Descriptive research design was employed in the study since the information is collected without changing the environment. Target population focused on all the 486 employees working at the Mars Wrigley’s Confectionery in Athi River Area, Machakos.This study collected primary data through the use of structured questionnaires. The study found out that all knowledge management enablers have positive and significant effect on organizational performance. Specifically, organizational culture, organizational information technology infrastructure, strategy and leadership all have an effect on Mars Wrigley Confectionery performance. The findings of the study revealed that performance of Mars Wrigley Confectionery is influenced by IT. All the associates at Mars Wrigley Confectionery had the ability to write code. Organization culture had a positive influence with performance. Staffs had a collaborative culture that enables the employees to work together towards achieving a common goal by sharing their skills and ideas. Knowledge management strategy had a positive influence on performance. Knowledge transferring strategy was applied on managing company knowledge to improve its productivity and efficiencies. Leadership had a positive influence with performance. The associates were motivated by their leaders. Managers behaved in a way that was consistent with their values. The study recommends that the management ought to implement IT strategies in their organization to achieve set goals and objectives. Staffs ought to adopt the firm’s culture on sharing and transferring knowledge. The management ought to ensure that their culture facilitated decision making capabilities through knowledge sharing. The study concluded that management should ensure that they incorporate knowledge creation in order to sustain its competitive advantage. The management should also ensure that their company structure provide guidance and clarity on specific issues faced by the leaders in an organization.
