The utilisation of an
intranet as a knowledge
management tool in
academic libraries
Hamilton Mphidi and
Retha Snyman
The authors
Hamilton Mphidi is Information Specialist in the Academic
Information Service and Retha Snyman is Professor in the
Department of Information Science, both at the University of
Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Keywords
Academic libraries, Intranets, Knowledge management
Abstract
The intranet has emerged as one of today’s most effective tools
for knowledge management. This article reports on the extent to
which three South African academic libraries, selected by means
of the purposive sampling method, utilise the intranet as a
knowledge management tool. Based on the literature,
knowledge management and an intranet are briefly defined. The
advantages of the intranet as a knowledge management tool as
well as the content of an intranet are discussed. The opinions
about knowledge management and the utilisation of the intranet
as a knowledge management tool in the three academic libraries
are weighed up against the findings in the literature. It is clear
that a strong awareness exists of the importance of knowledge
management and the value of the intranet as a knowledge
management tool. However, the potential of the intranet as a
knowledge management tool is not utilised fully.
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Introduction
The intranet and knowledge management are not
new concepts. Many organisations have realised
that an intranet can empower their employees. It
can also boost the organisation’s competitive
advantage, improve employee’s morale and
improve communication among clients and
suppliers(YenandChou,2001,p.80).Intranets
also offer new ways to manage and communicate
data, information and knowledge (Kim, 2003,
p. 66). A literature review indicates that research
has been done on the utilisation of an intranet as
a knowledge management tool in, for example,
law firms and the business environment
(Robinson, 1999, p. 95; Du Rand, 2000, p. 1).
However, little research has been done on the
utilisation of an intranet as a knowledge
management tool in academic libraries,
especially in South Africa.
Therefore, the purpose of this article is
to determine the extent to which academic
libraries in South Africa utilise the intranet
as a knowledge management tool. Findings
from other environments, such as the business
environment, as found in the literature, will
serve as background for the discussion.
Based on the literature, knowledge management
and an intranet are briefly defined. The
advantages of an intranet as a knowledge
management tool as well as the content of an
intranet are also discussed. Opinions about
knowledge management and the utilisation of an
intranet as a knowledge management tool in
three academic libraries in South Africa, are
subsequently weighed up against the findings in
the literature.
This article focuses specifically on three
academic libraries in South Africa, selected by
means of the purposive sampling method, and
referred simply to as libraries A, B and C for
privacy purposes. In purposive sampling the
researcher may prefer to select a sample based
entirely on his/her knowledge of the population
and the objectives of the research (Powell, 1997,
p. 69). When designing a survey of large
academic libraries that utilise intranets, the
easiest way of obtaining a sample of such libraries
would be to select libraries known to be utilising
intranets and that are willing to participate in the
research. The research would be based on the
assumption that such a sample would be
reasonably typical of all academic libraries
utilising an intranet. During the research,
individual semi-structured interviews were
carried out with the representatives of the
libraries.
The Electronic Library
Volume 22 · Number 5 · 2004 · pp. 393-400
q Emerald Group Publishing Limited · ISSN 0264-0473
DOI 10.1108/02640470410561901
393