Introduction

1. Introduction

In the present knowledge-driven economy, higher educational institutions are expected not only to disseminate knowledge but also to create, store, and manage it effectively. Knowledge Management refers to a systematic process of creating, sharing, applying, and preserving knowledge to enhance institutional performance. Faculty members play a central role in the KM process, as they are the primary contributors and users of academic knowledge.

Jabalpur, an important educational hub of Madhya Pradesh, has witnessed steady growth in higher education institutions. However, the extent to which knowledge management practices are formally adopted remains uncertain. This study attempts to assess faculty awareness and adoption of KM practices in higher educational institutions of Jabalpur district.

2. Objectives of the Study

1. To study the level of awareness of knowledge management practices among faculty members in higher educational institutions of Jabalpur district.
2. To examine the relationship between selected demographic variables and the adoption of knowledge management practice

3. Research Hypotheses

1. H₀₁: There is no significant association between gender and awareness of knowledge management practices.

   H₀₂: There is no significant association between teaching experience and adoption of knowledge management practices.

Materials and Methods

Research Methodology :The study adopts a descriptive research design. A sample of 120 faculty members was selected using convenience sampling technique from higher educational institutions in Jabalpur district.

• Research Design:  Descriptive research

• Area of Study: Jabalpur district, Madhya Pradesh

• Sample Size: 120 faculty members

• Sampling Technique: Convenience sampling

• Tools of Analysis: Percentage analysis and Chi-square test

Results

Data Analysis and Findings

Table 5.1: Awareness of Knowledge Management Practices among Faculty Members

The data indicate that 38.3% of faculty members possess high awareness of knowledge management practices, while 32.5% demonstrate moderate awareness and 29.2% exhibit low awareness. 

Table 5.2: Gender and Awareness of Knowledge Management Practices and Table 5.2a: Chi-Square Test Results for Gender and Awareness

Interpretation: The p-value of 0.045 is less than the significance level of 0.05, leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis H₀₁. This indicates a statistically significant association between gender and awareness of knowledge management practices. The findings suggest that awareness levels differ based on gender among faculty members. 

Table 5.3: Teaching Experience and Adoption of Knowledge Management Practices and  Table 5.3a: Chi-Square Test Results for Teaching Experience and Adoption 

Interpretation: The p-value of 0.006 is less than the significance level of 0.05, resulting in the rejection of the null hypothesis H₀₂. This confirms that teaching experience has a statistically significant influence on the adoption of knowledge management practices. Faculty members with greater teaching experience demonstrate higher levels of KM practice adoption compared to those with less experience.

Discussion

Results and Discussion

The study reveals several important findings regarding knowledge management practices in higher educational institutions of Jabalpur district. First, faculty members demonstrate moderate to high awareness of knowledge management practices, with over 70% of respondents showing either moderate or high awareness levels. This suggests that the conceptual understanding of KM exists among the teaching community.

Second, gender significantly influences awareness of KM practices, as evidenced by the chi-square test results (χ² = 6.214, p = 0.045). The data show that male faculty members exhibit slightly higher awareness levels compared to their female counterparts, though both groups demonstrate awareness across all categories.

Third, teaching experience plays a crucial role in the adoption of knowledge management practices (p = 0.006). Faculty members with more than 10 years of experience show the highest adoption rates, with 22 out of 40 (55%) demonstrating high adoption. In contrast, faculty with less than 5 years of experience show considerably lower adoption rates, with only 10 out of 40 (25%) in the high adoption category.

Despite these positive indicators of awareness, formal institutional mechanisms for knowledge management remain limited. The gap between awareness and structured implementation suggests that while individual faculty members recognize the importance of KM practices, institutional support and systematic frameworks are not yet adequately developed.

Conclusion

The study concludes that higher educational institutions in Jabalpur district demonstrate growing awareness of knowledge management practices among faculty members. However, structured implementation remains at a developing stage. The significant association between demographic factors and KM practices highlights the need for targeted training and institutional support. Strengthening KM systems can improve academic efficiency and knowledge sharing culture in higher education.

Author Contributions

Author 

Conflict of Interest Statement

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