Assessment of Knowledge Management Practices and Innovation Outcomes in Nigerian Technology Firms

Knowledge management is a fundamental driver of innovation in technology firms, and assessing its practices and outcomes in Nigerian technology companies provides evidence for building a more innovative technology sector. This study assessed knowledge management practices and their relationship with innovation outcomes in 25 technology companies across Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt. Knowledge management dimensions assessed included knowledge creation processes, knowledge sharing culture, knowledge storage systems, and knowledge application to product and service development. Innovation outcomes were measured by number of new products or features launched per year, patent or trademark applications, and revenue from new offerings as a percentage of total revenue. Data were collected from 100 senior managers and technical leads through structured questionnaires. Pearson correlation and regression analysis were employed. Results showed that knowledge sharing culture was the strongest predictor of innovation output (beta = 0.54, p < 0.001). Knowledge storage system quality was significantly correlated with product development speed (r = 0.63, p < 0.001). Companies with codified innovation processes (knowledge application to innovation) launched 2.3 times more new product features per year than those with ad hoc innovation activities. Cross-functional knowledge sharing was practised regularly in only 38% of companies. The study concludes that Nigerian technology firms need to invest more deliberately in knowledge sharing infrastructure and cross-functional collaboration to accelerate innovation, and recommends the Lagos tech ecosystem develop a knowledge management maturity framework for startups and scale-ups. Keywords: knowledge management, innovation, technology firms, Nigeria, knowledge sharing