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Linking knowledge sharing, competency development, and affective commitment: evidence from Indian Gen Y employees

Mohammad Faraz Naim (Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India)
Usha Lenka (Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India)

Journal of Knowledge Management

ISSN: 1367-3270

Article publication date: 10 July 2017

3134

Abstract

Purpose

The present study aims to explore knowledge sharing to evoke affective commitment of Gen Y employees through competency development.

Design/methodology/approach

The research uses cross-sectional survey to collect primary data. A questionnaire is developed based on extensive review of literature. A sample was obtained from Gen Y employees (born between 1980 and 2000) working in software organizations in India. In total, 582 completely filled, usable questionnaires were obtained.

Findings

Results indicate that knowledge sharing has a positive effect on competency development of Gen Y employees, which in turn, positively predicts affective commitment. Furthermore, this would result in the enhancement of employee competencies and eventually, the generation of affective commitment.

Research limitations/implications

This study was limited to the software development professionals working in Indian organizations Therefore, researchers should test the research model further in other industries preferably in a different country.

Practical implications

The more knowledge assets are shared in the organization, the higher the enhancement of employee competencies will become. To evoke emotional attachment of Gen Y employees, an organization must implement learning and development interventions

Originality/value

This study contributes to knowledge management literature, particularly knowledge sharing by exploring its possible linkage with employee attitudinal outcomes through empirical data. This also happens to be an empirical study to investigate Gen Y employees’ commitment in Indian context.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank my parents for their continuous blessings and unconditional support. Thanks to my supervisor for her guidance and constructive criticism. Last, but not the least, all praise to Al-Kareem for keeping me motivated throughout.

Citation

Naim, M.F. and Lenka, U. (2017), "Linking knowledge sharing, competency development, and affective commitment: evidence from Indian Gen Y employees", Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 21 No. 4, pp. 885-906. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-08-2016-0334

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

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