Tacit Knowledge Transfer and Employee Competitvenessof Woodwork Enterprises in Itobe, Kogi State, Nigeria

Firms’ ability to go global is dependent on knowledge which is the light that radiates employees’ abilities as well as firm’s growth. The study focused on tacit knowledge transfer and employee competitiveness of woodwork enterprises in Itobe, Kogi State, Nigeria. Trainees had been the bane of quality products in the woodwork manufacturing firms which had called for the nature of knowledge acquired. The objectives of this study are to investigate the skills and talent and employee competitiveness of woodwork enterprises and to determine the extent of relationship between perceived intuitive knowledge and employee competitiveness of woodwork enterprises in Itobe, Kogi State,, Nigeria. The population of the study is the total number of employees in woodwork enterprises as of June, 2024, which was 6,040 with a selected sample size of 469 through simple random approach. Two hypotheses were tested at a 95% confidence level. A quantitative approach was employed for the study with a survey method. The study used primary data through 5point Likert scale structured questionnaire. The data generated were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The inferential statistics employed in this study included SEMPLS path coefficient, confirmatory factor analysis and bootstrapping. The findings revealed that skills and talent has a significant relationship with employee competitiveness with woodwork enterprises in Itobe, Kogi State (β<0.129, p><0.129, P<0.00), perceived intuitive knowledge has significant relationship with employee competitiveness of woodwork firms (β<0.076, p><0.076, P<0.000). The study established that skills and talent as well as perceived intuitive knowledge as the most significant element on employee competitiveness of woodwork enterprises in Itobe, Kogi State. The study recommends that woodwork should give prominence to employees with skills and talent in getting a job done as well as encourage employees with perceived intuitive knowledge at the point of employment.