The use of the intranet of the Durban University of Technology Library as a knowledge management tool

Abstract

This paper reports an investigation of the use of the Durban University of Technology (DUT) Library intranet as a knowledge management (KM) tool. The general objectives of the investigation were to establish what KM practices are used in the library of DUT; establish if and how the staff of this academic library employ the intranet as a tool for KM; identify the characteristics of a KM tool that could assist the management of the library; assess DUT Library’s intranet (Microsoft SharePoint) against the characteristics of a KM tool. The specific objective was to ascertain the extent to which it is being used for KM and to develop an understanding of the factors that contribute or could contribute to the adoption of it for KM. The target population for this study was DUT professional library staff. The study employed a qualitative approach in its research design. Data were collected from the staff by means of a self-administered questionnaire, a focus group interview with a sample of key informants, and by consulting usage statistics of the SharePoint application.