Effective knowledge management "key" to retaining employees in the Middle East

The fast growth of new companies in the region - and the increasing diversification of operations by many large Arab corporations - has created a situation where businesses aren't effectively sharing internal learning and experience, disorientating both new and longstanding employees.

Effective knowledge management, which deploys a range of practices to identify, create, represent, and distribute knowledge within a company, could provide a vital resource for organizations as they move forward.

Leading human resources consultant, Robin Harding, recently managed a series of interactive workshops at BUiD with a range of academic experts and practitioners to review the body of research around this area.

"Businesses have benefited enormously from the ongoing economic development of the region, but this growth has proven challenging for employees in terms of understanding business direction and ensuring that lessons learned are incorporated as institutional knowledge," said Harding.

"The disorientation produced by rapid diversification and growth is often exacerbated by the wide range of different cultures and experience levels that are being assimilated in the workforce. Companies are increasingly looking to develop systems and practices that can help businesses better manage the process," he added.

Researchers at BUiD are currently investigating three significant employee management tools to assess their potential impact and benefit on Middle East organisations - Learning organisations, Knowledge Management and Virtual Working systems.

As well as the productivity benefits, the researchers are looking to see whether these tools can be used to strengthen employee engagement and retention, by ensuring that workers have access to the strategic information they need.

Retention and employee turnover are a major challenges across many industries in the Middle East, with companies having to invest more in finding talent - and often finding that talent leaving for other jobs in a short time.

A 2007 survey from leading Gulf employment website Bayt.com suggested that 45 percent of people in the Gulf region would switch jobs if offered a higher compensation package.

"A key factor driving increased employee mobility is the lack of access to knowledge and information, which causes employees to become disconnected from their company's strategic direction and reduces their effectiveness," said Professor Ashly Pinnington, Dean - Faculty of Business, British University in Dubai.

BUiD continues to support original research on issues relating to human resources and performance management in the UAE and wider region.

The University offers an MSc in Human Resource Management, designed in partnership with the Manchester Business School (MBS) at the University of Manchester - one of Europe's leading business schools.

Students taking the MSc are conducting a range of original research into the challenges of driving organisational performance to support sustainable economic growth.

Faculty members and students have delivered a range of lectures and workshops for professional organisations including the IIR, Marcus Evans and IQPC.