Utilisation of social media tools to enhance knowledge sharing among knowledge workers: A case of Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), Arusha, Tanzania

Abstract

This paper reports on a study done to promote the inquiry about the need for utilising social media tools to enhance knowledge sharing and the adoption of these collaborative tools in higher learning institutions. This study investigated the extent to which social media tools are utilised to enhance knowledge sharing among knowledge workers in the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), United Republic of Tanzania. The study conducted semi-structured interviews with NM-AIST library staff and ICT-RC personnel in 2014. The study found that, the utilisation of social media tools to enhance knowledge sharing among knowledge workers is still in its early stages in higher learning institutions in Tanzania. However, there was much interest amongst respondents for integrating and utilising social media tools to support knowledge sharing within such higher learning institutions in Tanzania. The study also provided a basis for further research on the utilisation of social media tools to enhance knowledge sharing in higher learning institutions.