Organizational Learning and Knowledge Management as HR Strategies in Nigerian Pharmaceutical Companies

This study investigates organizational learning and knowledge management as strategic HR practices in selected Nigerian pharmaceutical companies, drawing data from firms in Lagos and Ogun States, South West Nigeria. The pharmaceutical industry's reliance on scientific knowledge, regulatory compliance expertise, and quality assurance proficiency makes knowledge management a critical HR imperative for sustained competitive performance. An applied professional research design was employed, with data collected from 80 HR managers, knowledge officers, and pharmaceutical professionals through questionnaires and key informant interviews. The study draws on Nonaka and Takeuchi's Knowledge Creation Model and Senge's Learning Organization Framework. Findings reveal that pharmaceutical firms that systematically document tacit knowledge through exit interviews, maintain updated standard operating procedure repositories, and run structured cross-functional learning programs demonstrate higher regulatory compliance rates, lower product recall incidents, and faster new product development cycles. The study identifies a critical vulnerability in firms that rely heavily on the tacit expertise of aging senior scientists without knowledge transfer plans, creating institutional memory risks. Digital knowledge management platforms are found to be significantly underutilized despite their availability in most sampled firms. Recommendations include dedicated knowledge manager roles, incentive programs for knowledge documentation, and annual organizational learning audits aligned with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) compliance calendars. This study is relevant to pharmaceutical executives, regulatory authorities, and HR consultants in Nigeria's life sciences sector. Keywords: organizational learning, knowledge management, pharmaceutical companies, strategic HR, Nigeria