Abstract:
Skilled staff turnover plays a wide role in continuous knowledge loss in manufacturing
organizations. The result of staff turnover impacts organizational performance,
productivity, effectiveness, employee performance and knowledge. The importance of
managing an organization’s knowledge is a need in organizations. This research
identified the importance of knowledge management in the trailer manufacturing sector
with high staff turnover. This enables project managers to take project knowledge
management into practice within the organization. This study uses a qualitative research
approach. The aim of the study was achieved by a case study research strategy along
with 16 semi-structured interviews, which were performed as a data collection
technique. Data were collected from the case study organisation, focusing on knowledge
management methodologies used during the project phases and identifying the impact
of staff turnover on organizational knowledge. The knowledge management techniques
vary from one project phase to another project phase. Based on the outcome of this
research, project managers can identify the most effective knowledge management
techniques to be used at each phase. According to the study, the most frequently used
KM techniques in the planning stage were “Learning & Idea Capturing” and “Refer
Knowledge Base”. The most prominently used KM techniques in the designing stage
were “Brainstorming” and “Learning & Idea Capturing”. While the most frequently
used KM technique in the building, testing, and launching stages was found to be “Refer
Knowledge Base”. From this research study, project managers can identify the critical
areas affected by skilled staff turnover, how to prepare in advance and minimize
knowledge loss.
