Governing knowledge sharing behaviour in post-Soviet Kazakhstan

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to expand the understanding of knowledge governance approaches by examining governance mechanisms that can be used to enhance affective commitment. Then, this paper aims to investigate the mediating effects of affective commitment on the relationship between knowledge governance mechanisms (KGMs) and knowledge sharing.

Design/methodology/approach

Self-administered questionnaires were used to gather data from 391 employees working in a wide range of organizations operating in Kazakhstan. Regression analysis and structure equation models (SPSS and AMOS) were used to assess the research model.

Findings

The empirical results indicated that formal and informal KGMs have a significant impact on knowledge sharing. Moreover, the results revealed that affective commitment mediates the relationship between KGMs and knowledge sharing.

Practical implications

The proposed KGM is a response to practical necessity to promote the affective commitment by combinations of organizational antecedents.

Originality/value

It is the first attempt in post-Soviet Kazakhstan to systematically analyze the effect of knowledge governance on affective commitment. In addition, this paper offers a conceptual framework where affective commitment plays the mediating role in successful knowledge sharing.

Citation

Kozhakhmet, S. and Nazri, M. (2017), "Governing knowledge sharing behaviour in post-Soviet Kazakhstan", Journal of Workplace Learning, Vol. 29 No. 3, pp. 150-164. https://doi.org/10.1108/JWL-06-2016-0053