Purpose – The purpose of this article is to identify and explore the organizational and behavioral factors
that influence knowledge retention, specifically in the tacit knowledge sphere.
Design/methodology/approach – A multidisciplinary approach focusing on knowledge management
and organizational behavior was followed to develop a theoretical model that identifies the
organizational and behavioral factors to be considered when addressing the issues relating to
knowledge loss. A quantitative empirical research paradigm using the survey method was adopted to
determine the organizational and behavioral factors that impact on knowledge retention. The survey was
conducted electronically and on paper in the water supply industry. The exploratory principal
component factor analysis technique (PCFA technique) was used to explore the factor structure
underlying the variables. The theoretical model was compared with the newly proposed factor model to
determine similarities and differences