الملخص الإنجليزي
Knowledge has become a strategic asset for any country looking forward to improving its economy. The objective of this study was to investigate the status and nature of knowledge sharing among industrial enterprises in the Sultanate of Oman in terms of:
(1) Identifying the motives of industrial enterprises in sharing or not sharing knowledge, (2) Identifying the factors that influence knowledge sharing between industrial enterprises, and (3) suggesting a model example underlining knowledge sharing among industrial enterprises in Oman. The data collected through qualitative approach consisting of 23 face-to-face interviews with managers from different industrial enterprises, and two focus groups. The first one conducted with managers from all industrial enterprises and the second one conducted with managers from Nizwa industrial Estate.
The most important results the study came up with were:
1. Most of the managers of the industrial enterprises of Oman lack the awareness of the concept of knowledge sharing.
2. There is an existence of an internal knowledge sharing at the level of the units and departments of a single institution.
3. The industrial Estate lack specialized information centers that meet the needs of their employees, which then downgrade the potential of interactive and knowledge-sharing environment.
The study resulted into two model examples for knowledge sharing among Industrial enterprises of Oman: sharing knowledge within a single enterprise (internal); and sharing knowledge within a group of enterprises (external).
The study came up with some recommendations that would hopefully contribute in creating a rich environment for knowledge sharing in the Omani industrial enterprises, these are:
1. There is a need for the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates to adopt the principle of knowledge sharing between the industrial areas due to its responsibility for supervising the industrial areas.
2. There is a need to teach subjects of Knowledge Management at a university level in Oman.
3. The Industrial enterprises are encouraged to adopt the strategy of knowledge sharing through seminars, workshops, and meetings that discuss knowledge sharing.
4. There should be specialized information centers at each industrial Estate that enhance the culture of knowledge sharing and its related activities.
