Application of a knowledge management system for tacit knowledge in the railway sector in South Africa

Abstract

This research reports on a study conducted in the railway industry in South Africa, the purpose being to help the railway industry by showing how a knowledge management system can be used in the task of extracting tacit knowledge. In the light of the fact that railways in many countries throughout the world function as an effective mass transportation system for passengers, this study aims to design and propose a model that will help the railway industry in South Africa in the task of implementing a knowledge management system to facilitate the process of extracting tacit knowledge from experienced employees and making it explicit knowledge in order to sustain railway system operations. This study looked at the process of designing a model that is presented as a recommendation to be used for a knowledge management system in the railway sector in South Africa. The aim of this study is not to provide a technical solution but to give a viable and workable reply to the main research question of this study: How can a knowledge management system be implemented or deployed to the railway sector?