Knowledge Sharing in the Health Sector in Jamaica: The Barriers and the Enablers

Abstract

In knowledge sharing forums actors access each other’s knowledge to assist in their own decision making process. However, in the absence of a formal knowledge management system, this knowledge may not be available for use/reuse. In this chapter we analyze different cases in the healthcare sector in order to identify the factors which either facilitate or impede knowledge flows while sharing knowledge. The barriers and enablers pertaining to knowledge access and retrieval and knowledge sharing are identified in the health sector. Furthermore, we theorize about the use and reuse of knowledge items and the issues related to accessing and retrieving them in knowledge-sharing forums. We examine the patterns of accessibility of a knowledge item in knowledge-sharing forums and their effect on perceived usability and perceived usefulness and relevance of the knowledge item.