Knowledge Management and Competitive Advantage in Selected Firms in Akwa Ibom State

This research investigates the relationship between knowledge management practices and competitive advantage in selected firms in Akwa Ibom State, located in Nigeria's South South geopolitical zone. Akwa Ibom's diverse economic base spanning oil services, agribusiness, and manufacturing makes it an instructive context for examining how knowledge assets drive competitive differentiation. This study employs a descriptive survey design with data collected from 105 managers and knowledge workers across ten firms. Structured questionnaires based on validated knowledge management instruments were administered, with data analysed using descriptive statistics and regression. The study evaluates four knowledge management dimensions: knowledge creation, knowledge sharing culture, knowledge storage infrastructure, and knowledge application quality, relating each to competitive advantage indicators including market responsiveness, innovation rate, and operational efficiency. Findings reveal that knowledge application quality and knowledge sharing culture are the most significant predictors of competitive advantage, suggesting that the utility of knowledge management investments lies primarily in their organisational application rather than mere accumulation. Knowledge storage infrastructure was found to be underdeveloped in most firms, with limited use of formal knowledge repositories. The paper recommends that firms in Akwa Ibom State establish structured knowledge management systems, incentivise knowledge sharing behaviours, and integrate knowledge transfer into succession and mentorship programmes. Keywords: knowledge management, competitive advantage, knowledge sharing, Akwa Ibom State, organisational learning.