The flow of knowledge via network collaboration and its contribution to business model innovation: A case study of Namibia Public Enterprises

Abstract

It is widely recognised that the fourth industrial revolution is characterised by many challenges, including climate change, public health crises, growth in technology, digital transformation, and intelligent business operations. Since the disruption of services and operations of services by the global health pandemic that erupted in 2019, debates have increased on the ability and capabilities, especially harnessing knowledge as intangible assets to innovate and better response to the evolving business and geo-political landscape. In Namibia, special attention is paid to the public Sector (SOEs) that is responsible for providing basic services. There is a growing concern about how these entities can continuously enhance and provide services in the face of numerous challenges. This study explored the flow of knowledge from network collaboration as a dimension of knowledge management and its contribution to the business model innovation of public sectors in Namibia. A better understanding of this phenomenon is crucial because it enables organisations to better manage and leverage the knowledge to unlock their potential to benefit society, industry, and the government. The research findings indicate that State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) engage in collaborative activities that enhance their knowledge capabilities. Furthermore, those SOEs that effectively manage and utilize advanced tools and technologies in their knowledge flow process make more significant contributions to the innovation of their business models. This study employed a qualitative research methodology. A total of 14 semi-structured interviews were conducted with individuals who held various positions within Namibian State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and possessed substantial work experience. The purposive sampling method was used to select research participants. All interviews were conducted in person, recorded, transcribed, and subsequently subjected to thematic analysis using the Atlas Ti management system. The key findings of this research indicate that knowledge streams from networking and collaborations help organisations to gain valuable knowledge that contributes to the innovation of their business models. These findings will enable SOEs to enhance collaboration and build organisation capabilities through networking and collaboration to influence BMI.