Empirical research on knowledge creation among private sector employees in Malaysia

Abstract

The Ninth Malaysia Plan (2006 – 2010) [9MP] mentioned that labour and capitalintensive modes of development have given way to productivity and knowledge-based growth. This resulted in changes in the Malaysian society where the population have become increasingly urbanized and educated while the middle income group has expanded. In the 9MP, Thrust No. 2: To raise the capacity for knowledge and innovation and nurture ‘first class mentality’. Knowledge, innovation and values – in sum, the quality of the nation’s human capital – will be the key determinants of Malaysia’s future success as a knowledge-based economy. Despite the increasing attention focussed upon knowledge management, particularly in the area of knowledge creation/innovation in Malaysia, organisations have yet to achieve the desired level of knowledge creation. Therefore, the study aims to determine what factors will influence knowledge creation among private sector organisations in Malaysia. This research identified and will examine how four factors of organisation culture (sharing culture), organisation structure (restrictive structure), Information Communication Technologies (ICT) and People (human capital) will positively or negatively influence knowledge creation. Since, the Malaysian government aspires to be a knowledge-based economy this research will try to gauge or get a sense on how far initiatives have gone towards achieving this development goal in the country especially in terms of implications for the private sector organisations.