Improving the quality of research outputs in higher education through knowledge sharing and collaboration: A case study

Abstract

The article highlights some drawbacks of not managing knowledge in academia and suggests knowledge-sharing strategies that can be used to leverage knowledge on research procedures. The study investigated the research procedures used by Master of Information Studies students at the University of Natal in South Africa between 1982 and 2002. The results indicated that there was no uniformity in the research procedures used in the theses. For instance, issues relating to sampling, validating survey protocols and summarising research findings were not always handled according to established methodological standards. The variability in research processes that were employed partly implied that the levels of knowledge of research supervisors differed. It is evident from the research outputs that knowledge that is scattered among research supervisors is not easily accessible. In that regard, this article provides a model for academic institutions interested in bridging existing knowledge gaps and enhancing performance of research supervisors.