Impact of collective knowledge on individual research competence: exploring the mediating influence of knowledge management processes

Purpose The purpose of the current study is to investigate the impact of collective knowledge on individual research competence. Further, the study investigates the mediation effect of the knowledge management process (KMP). Design/methodology/approach The cross-sectional study adopts a quantitative conclusive research design. The study collects data specifically from academicians of Uttarakhand higher education institutions (HEIs). The study uses random sampling because the list of faculty members is uploaded on the website of the university portal. The author directly sends the questionnaire to the email of the respondents and uses social media platforms. For the data analysis, the study used SMART-PLS 4.0. Findings The findings of the study reveal that KM infrastructure (KMI) and KM strategy directly impact KMP. The study also reveals that the KMP significantly impacts individual research competence. The current study also finds partial mediation support among KMI, KMP and individual research competence, and between KM strategy, KMP and individual research competence. Research limitations/implications The current study uses a cross-sectional research design, future studies may include the longitudinal design to measure the effect of KM elements on individual research competence. The current study includes the data from the Uttarakhand region only, and it is difficult to generalize the results specifically to other states. Practical implications The study emphasizes the importance of KM system development, a supportive KMI and a balanced KM strategy in HEIs. Originality/value Investigating collective knowledge’s impact on individual research competence, this study unveils mediation in KMP. Future research can broaden horizons by using the model.