An investigation into the prevalence of knowledge management practices within the libraries of two institutions on the verge of a merger : Cape Technikon and Peninsula Technikon

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In terms of the Higher Education Act, 1997 (Act No. 101 of 1997: Notice no: 1700), the CapeTechnikon and the Peninsula Technikon will merge on 1 January 2005 to become a singleinstitution known as the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. This merger is part of theSouth African government's effort to streamline education spending priorities, whilst eveningout the differences between historically white and historically black institutions. During theapartheid era the Peninsula Technikon was established mainly for black (i.e. Coloured andAfrican) students and the Cape Technikon for white students.There are a number of problems and challenges that can be expected by these institutionsbefore, during and after the merger. These include, among others, identity crises that mightresult from the clash of different cultures because of the different backgrounds of these twoinstitutions. If the merger is not handled properly, especially where human and cultural issuesare concerned, it might not be successful. Higher education institutions are recognized as beingin the knowledge business, and libraries play a central role in this regard. Academic librariansspecifically have a significant knowledge management role to play in their institutions. In thecase of the Cape Technikon and Peninsula Technikon libraries, it would thus be very importantto understand each institution's culture and what their existing knowledge managementpractices are, so that by the time of the actual merger they will know how to cooperateproductively and effectively.Given the complexity of mergers and their wide ranging ramifications, as well as potentialproblems that might hamper the smooth operations of the institutions, the aim of this study wasto investigate the knowledge management practices of the libraries of these two institutions.Thereafter recommendations were made, based on the findings, as to how to apply knowledgemanagement practices to increase the capabilities of the two institutions' libraries and enhancetheir operational efficiency. The methods of investigation were qualitative in nature andcomprised questionnaires which were filled in by the librarians of both institutions as well asin-depth interviews with senior staff members of both libraries. The study also made otherobservations which related to the feel of the environments and people's attitude which werealso quite revealing. Although both libraries displayed knowledge management practices, theCape Technikon was found to be more advanced in some regards than the PeninsulaTechnikon. Finally, recommendations were made on how to apply certain specific knowledge managementpractices successfully after the merger. These included a recommendation that both institutionsensure that there are processes in place to ensure that knowledge is recorded on an ongoingbasis.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University