Community extension agents’ perceived effect of knowledge management capacity on the performance of cocoa health and extension division in Ghana.

Abstract

The study assessed community extension agents’ perceived effect of knowledge management capacity on the performance of Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED) in Ghana. A descriptive correlation survey design was used. A hundred and sixty-six (166) randomly sampled CEAs from thirty (30) districts in three (3) Cocoa regions of Ghana partook the study. A questionnaire was used to collect data and analyzed using frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviation, correlation coefficients and ordinary least square regression using SPSS version 21. A significant relationship was found between organizational performance and both knowledge management process and infrastructure at an alpha level of 0.05. However, organizational performance had no significant relationship with sex, age, level of education and leadership style. Inadequate infusion of ICT (27.2%) was rated as the most severe of all the challenges of knowledge management in CHED. The best predictors of organizational performance were knowledge management culture (35.7%), knowledge management acquisition (4.8%), sex (6.1%), highest level of education (3.3%) and knowledge management application (1.4%). The study concluded that, the overall rating of knowledge management process, knowledge management infrastructure and leadership style were high in CHED. The study recommended among others that, CHED should boost its knowledge management technology infrastructure, develop a unique knowledge management culture, improve its knowledge management acquisition process by revamping its ICT units, intensifying on the job trainings, inspiring self-search and discovery, encouraging knowledge sharing and minimizing bureaucratic structures.