Framework for Tacit Knowledge Loss Mitigation in South African Public Sector Enterprises

In order to mitigate the risks of losing key personnel and their innate tacit knowledge resources, this paper explored a framework for reducing knowledge loss in South African public sector enterprises (PSEs) through the integration of knowledge management (KM) and human resource management (HRM) st...

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Main Author: Malefetjane Phineas Phaladi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Administrative Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/15/6/218
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author Malefetjane Phineas Phaladi
author_facet Malefetjane Phineas Phaladi
author_sort Malefetjane Phineas Phaladi
collection DOAJ
description In order to mitigate the risks of losing key personnel and their innate tacit knowledge resources, this paper explored a framework for reducing knowledge loss in South African public sector enterprises (PSEs) through the integration of knowledge management (KM) and human resource management (HRM) strategies. The study used a quantitative research design, administering survey questionnaires to 585 randomly selected employees in three South African PSEs. The survey yielded a 25% response rate and was analysed using Statistical Analysis Software, resulting in a Cronbach alpha of 0.94. The findings of the exploratory factor analysis showed that a framework for reducing knowledge loss can be developed by integrating HRM practices and focusing on seven factors: knowledge loss recognition, knowledge management practices, human resource training, organisational culture, recruitment practices, employee retention, and organisational barriers. Three important components constitute the developed framework for knowledge loss minimization. Tacit knowledge loss was recognised as a critical strategic issue based on the results of the chi-square test for independence and logistic regression. This realisation, along with control and intervention variables, created the three main components of the framework. This paper explored the Knowledge Loss Reduction framework, focusing on South African PSEs as a case, to help organisations address the complex tacit knowledge loss prevalent in public and commercial firms worldwide. It contributes to the knowledge-based view, focusing on knowledge-absorptive and -retentive capacities and praxis in knowledge (risk) management and human resource management.
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spelling doaj-art-2c7dffa0f5fa446a8b6faadaf66b2f142025-08-20T03:30:24ZengMDPI AGAdministrative Sciences2076-33872025-06-0115621810.3390/admsci15060218Framework for Tacit Knowledge Loss Mitigation in South African Public Sector EnterprisesMalefetjane Phineas Phaladi0Department of Information Systems, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4001, South AfricaIn order to mitigate the risks of losing key personnel and their innate tacit knowledge resources, this paper explored a framework for reducing knowledge loss in South African public sector enterprises (PSEs) through the integration of knowledge management (KM) and human resource management (HRM) strategies. The study used a quantitative research design, administering survey questionnaires to 585 randomly selected employees in three South African PSEs. The survey yielded a 25% response rate and was analysed using Statistical Analysis Software, resulting in a Cronbach alpha of 0.94. The findings of the exploratory factor analysis showed that a framework for reducing knowledge loss can be developed by integrating HRM practices and focusing on seven factors: knowledge loss recognition, knowledge management practices, human resource training, organisational culture, recruitment practices, employee retention, and organisational barriers. Three important components constitute the developed framework for knowledge loss minimization. Tacit knowledge loss was recognised as a critical strategic issue based on the results of the chi-square test for independence and logistic regression. This realisation, along with control and intervention variables, created the three main components of the framework. This paper explored the Knowledge Loss Reduction framework, focusing on South African PSEs as a case, to help organisations address the complex tacit knowledge loss prevalent in public and commercial firms worldwide. It contributes to the knowledge-based view, focusing on knowledge-absorptive and -retentive capacities and praxis in knowledge (risk) management and human resource management.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/15/6/218tacit knowledge lossknowledge loss reduction frameworkhuman resource management practicesknowledge managementknowledge risk managementorganisational culture
spellingShingle Malefetjane Phineas Phaladi
Framework for Tacit Knowledge Loss Mitigation in South African Public Sector Enterprises
Administrative Sciences
tacit knowledge loss
knowledge loss reduction framework
human resource management practices
knowledge management
knowledge risk management
organisational culture
title Framework for Tacit Knowledge Loss Mitigation in South African Public Sector Enterprises
title_full Framework for Tacit Knowledge Loss Mitigation in South African Public Sector Enterprises
title_fullStr Framework for Tacit Knowledge Loss Mitigation in South African Public Sector Enterprises
title_full_unstemmed Framework for Tacit Knowledge Loss Mitigation in South African Public Sector Enterprises
title_short Framework for Tacit Knowledge Loss Mitigation in South African Public Sector Enterprises
title_sort framework for tacit knowledge loss mitigation in south african public sector enterprises
topic tacit knowledge loss
knowledge loss reduction framework
human resource management practices
knowledge management
knowledge risk management
organisational culture
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/15/6/218
work_keys_str_mv AT malefetjanephineasphaladi frameworkfortacitknowledgelossmitigationinsouthafricanpublicsectorenterprises