This research proposal aims to understand how knowledge can be transferred to national employees in the UAE public sector. The proposal outlines a 17 week study using action research and interviews at University City to collect data on current knowledge transfer practices. The data will be analyzed both qualitatively and using mixed methods to evaluate knowledge transfer across departments and make recommendations. Potential challenges include difficulty observing work and arranging interviews, but the study seeks to answer how public sector productivity can be improved through knowledge sharing.

1. Sharjah Higher Colleges of Technology
E-BUSINESS MANAGEMENT - LEVEL 9
Research Proposal
Prepared for:
Mr. Clay Gervais
Submitted by
Samar Mohammed Al Amoudi
ID number: H00086563
October 2, 2012

2. Table of Contents
Introduction and objective .................................................................................................. 3
Relevant literature ............................................................................................................... 4
Research design .................................................................................................................. 5
Data collection .................................................................................................................... 5
Data analysis ....................................................................................................................... 6
Potential problems .............................................................................................................. 7
Works Cited ........................................................................................................................ 8
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3. Introduction and objective
The research proposal will describe and cover how knowledge can managed and
transferred to national employees in the public sectors. This research will lead as to
answer the question, which is, what can be done to help public sector employees take the
leap and move to private sectors.
The concept and vocabulary of knowledge management is hard to define. Different
people understand the concept of managing and transferring knowledge differently and
few can define it in measurable terms. “Knowledge transfer is more than just on-the-job
training. It is the planned movement of the right skills and information at the right time to
keep a workforce prepared, productive, innovative, and competitive” (Trautman).In the
present economy, knowledge is an important organizational asset, which means that
expertise must be transferred and shared among units. “Studies show that companies
which focus on implementing knowledge transferring have a better chance to increase
their level of productivity” (Biygautane 3). Even though it’s important to understand the
concept of transferring knowledge, the sharing of information within organizations
remains a challenge. This research proposal shows that transferring knowledge has
significantly impact on improving the employees’ ability and productivity. In addition it
will focus on understating the concept of transferring knowledge through generating
general focus question that will help us in implementing this research. Therefor, the
question that this research is trying to answers is “how can knowledge be transferred to
national employees in the public sector.
This research proposal will be achieved in almost 17 weeks. And using S.M.A.R.T.
method is one way to help me remember how to walk through the research proposal. I
choose University City as source for my research since I have been working there and I
would like to draw their attention to the importance of managing and transfer knowledge
within the organization to improve their efficiency and productivity.
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4. Relevant literature
Moving to the relevant literature where I will list five sources which will provide me with
a general understanding of this topic and they are:
1. Study case: Knowledge Management in the UAE’s Public Sector
The previous source is discussing a study case that had been implemented in Dubai;
therefore it is one of the important reasons behind choosing this case. The source includes
useful information such as: examples, data and diagrams that will help to complete my
analysis, in addition gaining an overall idea about transferring knowledge specifically in
UAE.
2. Article : steps to achieve Knowledge Transfer
The article was written by Mark Waschek and it covers several steps to achieve
Knowledge Transfer. This source comprise almost the answers for my research proposal
which is how to transfer knowledge using several steps that been included in this article.
3. Document: Knowledge Transfer through People
This source includes a variety of information about knowledge transfer, such as:
knowledge transfer initiatives, knowledge transfer principles and methods that will be
used to encourage people to embrace culture change. So using the source will help me
collecting as much information as possible about knowledge transfer.
4. Article: Using mentoring and storytelling to transfer knowledge in the workplace
This article focuses on two transfer mechanisms - mentoring and storytelling - that can
leverage the knowledge of an organization, to build core capabilities. I have chosen this
article because it draws on relevant research in learning and cognitive psychology to
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5. clarify the conditions under which mentoring and storytelling can be most effective as
carriers of knowledge.
5. Article: Knowledge Transfer and Performance
The purpose of this study is to investigate the determinants and outcomes of internal
knowledge transfer which will help me to understand the effects of transferring
knowledge.
Research design
The Research design that I have chosen is the exploratory research. I believe that this
research design will deliver the necessary evidences to answer the research problem as
accurately and clearly as possible. In addition, reach a greater understanding of how
knowledge can be transferred to the national employees through collecting the right data
from different sources and different point of views. Toward the chosen research design I
will focus on two types of research strategies: action research and interview, so the
needed data will be collected through observing the work environment and interviewing
the general manager.
Data collection
The data serve as the bases or raw materials for analysis. Without an analysis of factual
data, no specific conclusion can be drawn to answer the question. Since I’m working at
University City, the action research will help me to carry out a systematic investigation in
order to achieve a better understanding of the workplace and how does they manage and
transfer knowledge. So, the first step is observing the workplace by evaluating the
employees to see how they manage and transfer the knowledge in each department. After
that I will turn the collected data into evidence to see whether they are following the right
direction or not. Finally, the observations will be recorded and organized in appropriate
ways to be optimally useful.
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6. The second research strategy is interviews. Interviews make it possible to collect
complete information from different categories of sample. In addition, collect more
complex data with a greater depth and understanding. It’s hard to gather as much data as
possible during an interview. Therefore I will prepare the questions previously and then I
will be recording the interview. I believe that choosing interviews will help me to have
more control over the flow and sequence question because some answers can’t be found
using observation methods.
Data analysis
Reading and reviewing the collected data is an important first step in any data analysis,
whether is qualitative or quantitative. Qualitative data often consist of interview notes or
notes from field observation (Rabinowitz and Fawcett). After collecting the needed data I
will analyze them using two types of methods, first the mono method which is involve
qualitative data. And the second method is the mixed model research. For the interview I
will review and organize the collected information. In contrast, the collected data from
the action research will be analyzed using the mixed model research.
There are several steps to analyze the action research data. So after evaluating the
employees in each department I will gather the result and display them as statistics and
percentages and finally I will study these result to see and understand how they manage
and transfer knowledge in each department.
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7. Potential problems
During this research proposal there are some problems that might occur. For example, it’s
hard to collect the needed data using the observation method. This method needs time
and ability to entrance with the other departments. Therefore I have to get the manager
permission to access the other department to gather as much information as possible. In
addition, it’s not easy to arranging an interview with the manager since he is the general
director of University City. Furthermore, during the interview I might face some
difficulties in collecting the needed data, so I have to ask a clear and focus questions to
collect the right information.
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8. Works Cited
Biygautane, Mhamed. “Knowledge Management in the UAE’s Public Sector: The Case
of Dubai.” July 2011. File last modified on July 2011. PDF file.
“Knowledge Transfer.” Jan. 2009. File last modified on Jan. 2009. PDF file.
Peng-Yu Li, and Fang-Yi Lo. “Knowledge Transfer and Performance.” International
Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IE). Proceedings (2011): 44.
ProQuest. Web. 1 Oct. 2012.
<http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.hct.ac.ae/docview/1016217226>.
Rabinowitz, Phil, and Stephen Fawcett. “Collecting and Analyzing Data.” The
Community Tool Box. Ed. Christina Holt. N.p., 2012. Web. 1 Oct. 2012.
<http://ctb.ku.edu/en/tablecontents/chapter37/section5.aspx>.
Swap, Walter, et al. “Using Mentoring and Storytelling to Transfer Knowledge in the
Workplace.” Journal of Management Information Systems 18.1 (2001): 95-114.
ProQuest. Web. 1 Oct. 2012.
<http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.hct.ac.ae/docview/218923836>.
Trautman, Steve. “Knowledge Transfer Defined.” Knowledge Transfer. N.p., 9 23 2011.
Web. 1 Oct. 2012. <http://stevetrautman.com/you-are-here-knowledge-transfer-
defined/>.
Waschek, Mark, and Mark Esfeld. “6 Steps to achieve knowledge transfer.” Crop Life
(2012): n. pag. Rpt. in Employee Management. N.p.: n.p., 2012. Crop Life. Web.
30 Sept. 2012. <http://www.croplife.com/article/24936/employee-management-6-
steps-to-achieve-knowledge-transfer>.
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