Seeking traces of democracy in the workplace: effects on knowledge sharing

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine the role of organisational democracy (OD) in facilitating the knowledge sharing (KS) process within companies, thus considering the effect of different OD principles.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used data collected through a questionnaire on a sample of 254 employees at private universities and colleges to test the relationship between OD and KS. Data were analysed using the structural equation modelling technique.

Findings

Overall, OD has a direct and significant effect on facilitating KS in organisations. Also, the results showed that there are different degrees and intensities among the individual principles (sub-concepts) of OD and KS.

Practical implications

The findings highlight the important role of democracy in an organisation to enhance the organisational climate and employees’ behaviours, thus leading to higher KS outcomes. Also, results, provide an opportunity for managers to consider enhancing democracy in an organisation for improving internal collaboration effectiveness in KS.

Originality/value

This paper sheds light and adds new knowledge to embryonic studies that are directed towards the integration of democracy within the main concept of knowledge management (KM). This emphasises the need to use and stimulate OD and its principles for improving the effectiveness of KM practices with specific attention to KS.

Citation

Rezaei, M., Ferraris, A., Busso, D. and Rizzato, F. (2022), "Seeking traces of democracy in the workplace: effects on knowledge sharing", Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 26 No. 10, pp. 2528-2557. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-02-2021-0103