Knowledge Management and Job Performance of Business Studies Teachers: The Mediating Effect of Work Engagement

Abstract

Considering the complex and multiple job performed by business studies teachers, there is need to examine the relationships between three dimensions of knowledge management (KM), three dimensions of work engagement (WE) and two components of job performance (JP). There is need also to examine the mediating effect of WE in the relationship between KM and JP of business studies teachers. A correlational design was used in the study and data were collected from 138 business studies teachers in public universities in Nigeria. The authors applied bivariate correlation, linear regression and path analysis via 5000 re-samples bootstrap method. The results showed that KM dimensions, i.e. knowledge acquisition, knowledge dissemination and responsiveness to knowledge significantly predict WE. It also showed that WE dimensions, i.e. cognitive engagement, emotional engagement and physical engagement significantly predict JP components, i.e. task and contextual performance. The results also showed that knowledge acquisition and knowledge dissemination significantly predict JP, while responsiveness to knowledge did not significantly predict JP. It also showed that WE did not mediate the relationship between KM and JP. The results suggest that knowledge acquisition and knowledge dissemination and responsiveness to knowledge are among the key antecedents of WE. The results also suggest that cognitive engagement, emotional engagement and physical engagement are among the key antecedents of JP. It also suggest that low WE will not bring about the relationship between KM and JP. The results will help stakeholders to understand the salient roles of KM and WE in Nigerian tertiary institutions and their salient roles as human resource management strategies that must be implemented optimally within all work processes. In turn, help tertiary institutions to compete with other organizations through improved performance of staff.