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1 – 10 of over 22000Ting Jer Yuen and M. Shaheen Majid
The objective of this study is to investigate the knowledge‐sharing behavior of undergraduate students in Singapore and to cover areas such as the purpose of sharing knowledge…
Abstract
Purpose
The objective of this study is to investigate the knowledge‐sharing behavior of undergraduate students in Singapore and to cover areas such as the purpose of sharing knowledge, communication channels preferred for sharing, and factors that inhibit or motivate knowledge sharing among students.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire was used for collecting data and 180 students from three public universities in Singapore participated in the study.
Findings
It was found that, generally, students displayed a positive attitude towards knowledge sharing and were appreciative of its importance in peer learning. However, it was interesting to note that the respondents were less inclined to share knowledge for academic activities that were graded. The study also revealed that competition among students to outperform their fellow students and lack of depth in peer relationship were the two main factors that inhibited knowledge sharing.
Practical implications
The paper argues that fresh approaches to learning are desirable to make it less competitive, which is likely to encourage active knowledge sharing among students.
Originality/value
A majority of the studies on knowledge sharing have been conducted in an organizational context. Only limited work has been done on the knowledge‐sharing behavior of students. As a majority of the university students are expected to join the workforce after graduation, it is desirable their knowledge‐sharing behavior should be thoroughly investigated.
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Kowta Sita Nirmala Kumaraswamy and C.M. Chitale
The main purpose of the paper is to assess and suggest the ways and means to enhance a collaborative knowledge sharing culture in academic institutions, with special reference to…
Abstract
Purpose
The main purpose of the paper is to assess and suggest the ways and means to enhance a collaborative knowledge sharing culture in academic institutions, with special reference to information technology (IT)‐related education in the Management Faculty of the University of Pune.
Design/methodology/approach
The research is descriptive and empirical in nature because the primary data were collected using the survey method through fact finding techniques such as questionnaire and interview. The main purpose of this research is to obtain information concerning the current status of the phenomena to describe “what exists” with respect to variables or conditions in a situation.
Findings
The sustainability of any industry is closely linked to the manpower talent made available by the academic institutions. Therefore in order to service the needs of the industry in tune with rapidly changing trends, academic institutions have to implement innovative learning systems and be able to match up to the expectations of the industry for knowledge support. Collaborative knowledge sharing links the learning and knowledge processes to enhance organizational learning. The knowledge grows more with communication, sharing of ideas and transfer of knowledge through face‐to‐face communication, discussions, faculty development programs, industry‐institute interactions. Academic institutions should align their human resource strategies, practices and processes in such a way that collaborative knowledge sharing becomes a part of the work culture and overcome the barriers to knowledge sharing. There is need to develop systems that can recognize and reward the efforts of employees who share their knowledge. This can empower collaborative knowledge sharing culture in an academic institute.
Research limitations/implications
In the same context as the practical implications of the paper, it is also appropriate and important to study further how, and to what extent collaborative knowledge improves the performance of the academic institutes. Also, the impact of collaborative knowledge sharing on the quality of higher education.
Practical implications
The recommendations in this paper focus on factors influencing collaborative knowledge sharing culture and also the practices of collaborative knowledge sharing to enhance organizational learning in an academic institute.
Originality/value
This paper contributes original empirical data on the collaborative knowledge sharing strategy to enhance organizational learning.
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Vibha Mahajan, Jyoti Sharma, Abhilasha Singh, Stefano Bresciani and Gazi Mahabubul Alam
The purpose of this study is to get an understanding regarding the clusters of middle management employees on the basis of their knowledge sharing behaviour. Designing knowledge…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to get an understanding regarding the clusters of middle management employees on the basis of their knowledge sharing behaviour. Designing knowledge sharing behaviors with a distinct focus for a specified group of employees can be an effective and productive one. As it is often argued that the cluster of employees labeled as “middle management” is the key player for knowledge sharing behaviors – a subject of this study that intends to contribute to management strategy to enhance organizational effectiveness and subsequently to its knowledge sharing phenomona.
Design/methodology/approach
Cluster analysis was adopted as key tool as a part of quantitative method to accumulate the data from 597 employees who are working within the middle management of service sector located in the union territory of India named Jammu and Kashmir.
Findings
Three distinct segments namely – “knowledge sharing adepts (KSA),” “knowledge sharing scrupulous (KSC)” and “knowledge sharing servitudes (KSE)” as the prime domains of knowledge sharing behavior are identified.
Research limitations/implications
To draw a narrow focus, the study was limited to the service sector of a union territory in India, hence the findings may not be generalized. Furthermore, as knowledge sharing behavior of individuals is always evolved out of social and historical practices, findings of this cross-sectional study should ideally be needed to be updated time to time through further research.
Practical implications
Cluster dynamicism of knowledge sharing behavior based on the differentiated and specified group of employee functions distinctly which in turn increases the organizational productivity with a particular focus on the mid-management of the service sector – a key managerial implication of this study.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research paper is the first of its kind in Jammu and Kashmir adding value to the international literature in the area of knowledge sharing behaviors of service sector.
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Naseem Rahman, Maduka Subasinghage and Harminder Singh
This study aims to understand how organizations in the service industry can encourage the use of enterprise social networks (ESNs) for knowledge sharing, focusing on the concepts…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to understand how organizations in the service industry can encourage the use of enterprise social networks (ESNs) for knowledge sharing, focusing on the concepts of intra-organizational trust and governance.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors gathered data through an online survey of 104 participants from the financial services industry. Data were analyzed using structural equation modelling to test the proposed model and evaluate the constructs’ reliability and validity.
Findings
The findings of the survey data indicate that intra-organizational trust and governance are related to the use of ESN for knowledge sharing to enhance service innovation. Further, the findings suggest that, although trust directly affects service innovation, using ESN for knowledge sharing partially mediates the relationship between trust and service innovation. The findings also reveal that governance significantly moderates the relationship between ESN for knowledge sharing and innovation.
Originality/value
This paper provides insights into the relationship between trust, knowledge sharing and innovation. The novelty of this study demonstrates that governance strengthens the relationship between ESN for knowledge sharing and innovation. Further, the study suggests that firms using or intending to use ESNs could keep track of the evolving nature of ESNs, develop an open culture and create a trusted environment in their organizations.
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Muhammad Mustafa Raziq, Qudsia Jabeen, Sharjeel Saleem, Mohamed Dawood Shamout and Samad Bashir
Drawing on the competing values framework, we look at the relationship of different organizational cultures (clan, hierarchy, adhocracy and market) with organizational…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on the competing values framework, we look at the relationship of different organizational cultures (clan, hierarchy, adhocracy and market) with organizational performance. Furthermore, we examine the mediating role of knowledge sharing (attitude and behavior) in the organizational culture and organizational performance relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
We draw on survey data from 241 respondents working in the aerospace and aviation manufacturing and services firms in Pakistan (85), Turkey (65) and the United Arab Emirates (91). We employ structural equation modeling for data analysis.
Findings
Results suggest that knowledge sharing partially mediates the relationship between clan culture and organizational performance, and fully mediates the market culture and organizational performance relationship. Hierarchy culture is only positively related to organizational performance, while adhocracy culture shows no relationship with knowledge sharing, let alone organizational performance.
Originality/value
While knowledge sharing enhances organizational performance, there is limited knowledge with regard to the specific organizational culture(s) conducive to knowledge sharing and organizational performance. The study extends existing research on the topic and contributes by showing which cultures are more conducive to knowledge sharing and organizational performance and which are less.
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Yanling Wang, Qin Lin, Shihan Zhang and Nannan Chen
The purpose of this study is to empirically examine the cause–effect relationships between workplace friendship and knowledge-sharing behavior, from a static perspective…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to empirically examine the cause–effect relationships between workplace friendship and knowledge-sharing behavior, from a static perspective. Furthermore, it investigates the bi-directional relationship between the increase in both workplace friendship and knowledge-sharing behavior over same time periods, and also endeavors to identify whether there is a significant negative lagged effect of the increase in both workplace friendship on knowledge-sharing behavior, and vice versa, across time from a dynamic perspective.
Design/methodology/approach
The study conducts a three-wave questionnaire survey to test the research model. A latent change score approach was used to test the direct relationship between changes in workplace friendship and changes in knowledge-sharing behavior.
Findings
The findings reveal that knowledge-sharing behavior fosters workplace friendship and workplace friendship promotes the emergence of knowledge-sharing behavior. An increase in workplace friendship promotes an increase in knowledge-sharing behavior over same time periods. However, an increase in workplace friendship will lead to a lagged decrease of knowledge-sharing behavior across time, and vice versa.
Research limitations/implications
The time interval in this study is a little short to capture the full changes in workplace friendship. Some important control factors and mediating mechanisms are not included in the research model.
Practical implications
This study guides managers to focus on various motivators to better strengthen workplace friendship and knowledge-sharing behavior and to consider and effectively respond to the negative side of workplace friendship and knowledge-sharing behavior across time.
Originality/value
This study emphasizes the predictivity of one important interaction patterns, namely, knowledge-sharing behavior on friendship at the workplace, from a static perspective. This study also shows the benefits of an increase in workplace friendship for the development of knowledge-sharing behavior in the same time period. Furthermore, the study presents a counterintuitive finding when taking the lag effect into consideration in exploring the relationship between changes both in workplace friendship and knowledge-sharing behavior, and identifies a negative side of both when viewed over longer periods.
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Zhen Xu, Ruohong Hao, Xuanxuan Lyu and Jiang Jiang
Knowledge sharing in online health communities (OHCs) disrupts consumers' health information-seeking behavior patterns such as seeking health information and consulting. Based on…
Abstract
Purpose
Knowledge sharing in online health communities (OHCs) disrupts consumers' health information-seeking behavior patterns such as seeking health information and consulting. Based on social exchange theory, this study explores how the two dimensions of experts' free knowledge sharing (general and specific) affect customer transactional and nontransactional engagement behavior and how the quality of experts' free knowledge sharing moderates the above relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
We adopted negative binomial regression models using homepage data of 2,982 experts crawled from Haodf.com using Python.
Findings
The results show that experts' free general knowledge sharing and free specific knowledge sharing positively facilitate both transactional and nontransactional engagement of consumers. The results also demonstrate that experts' efforts in knowledge-sharing quality weaken the positive effect of their knowledge-sharing quantity on customer engagement.
Originality/value
This study provides new insights into the importance of experts' free knowledge sharing in OHCs. This study also revealed a “trade-off” between experts' knowledge-sharing quality and quantity. These findings could help OHCs managers optimize knowledge-sharing recommendation mechanisms to encourage experts to share more health knowledge voluntarily and improve the efficiency of healthcare information dissemination to promote customer engagement.
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Paul Tang, Jennifer Y.M. Lai, Xiaoyun Chen and Siu Fong Isabel Fu
Drawing on social exchange theory, this study aims to investigate the reciprocal relationship between an employee’s knowledge sharing and his or her coworkers’ responses to this…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on social exchange theory, this study aims to investigate the reciprocal relationship between an employee’s knowledge sharing and his or her coworkers’ responses to this focal contributor in terms of knowledge sharing and helping behaviors.
Design/methodology/approach
A two-wave online survey collected data from 84 respondents who provided ratings on each member on their team, representing 440 dyadic relationships. Hierarchical linear modeling analyzed the between-subjects and within-subject data simultaneously.
Findings
Employees generally reciprocate contributors’ knowledge sharing with an exact act (i.e. knowledge sharing) through the mechanism of peer respect. However, respect generated by knowledge sharing is enhanced only when the knowledge contributor is competent.
Originality/value
Research on how an employee’s knowledge sharing actually influences other members of a team is lacking. This study addresses this gap by examining responses to a team member’s knowledge sharing from a peer’s perspective. It also reveals when knowledge sharing is more pronounced in earning peer respect.
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As knowledge management increasingly becomes critical for the success of professional service firms, this paper uses social exchange theory to investigate the interactive impact…
Abstract
Purpose
As knowledge management increasingly becomes critical for the success of professional service firms, this paper uses social exchange theory to investigate the interactive impact of transformational leadership and organizational innovation on online knowledge sharing by employees in professional service firms. This study aims to investigate the mediating roles of job autonomy and job engagement in this process.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from a survey of 350 frontline employees in professional service providers, including banking, telecommunication and insurance. Structural equation modeling was used for data analysis.
Findings
The results show that transformational leadership positively affects job autonomy, which in turn has a positive impact on online knowledge sharing through job engagement. Thus, job autonomy and job engagement mediate the relationship between transformational leadership and online knowledge sharing. Finally, organizational innovation moderates the relationship between transformational leadership and job autonomy.
Originality/value
This paper extends the knowledge management literature by studying the impact of transformational leadership on the online knowledge-sharing behavior and exploring the focal roles of job autonomy and job engagement in online-sharing behavior in professional service firms. The findings also provide useful implications for practitioners to help them engage employees in the adoption of digital technologies to optimize outcomes.
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Fangfang Xia, Changfeng Wang, Rui Sun and Mingyue Qi
This study aims to identify an antecedent that hinders knowledge sharing, namely, the perceived climate of Cha-xu. Based on the social exchange perspective, the authors propose a…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to identify an antecedent that hinders knowledge sharing, namely, the perceived climate of Cha-xu. Based on the social exchange perspective, the authors propose a theoretical model that links the perceived climate of Cha-xu to employee knowledge sharing. This model focuses on the mediating role of two types of trust (vertical and horizontal trust) and the moderating role of task interdependence in influencing the mediation.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a sample of 509 Chinese employees, this study carried out a survey on an online platform. This study developed a structural equation model and tested the moderated mediation hypothesis by using Mplus 8.0.
Findings
The results showed that two types of trust act as mediators in the relationship between the perceived climate of Cha-xu and knowledge-sharing processes. The mediating effect of horizontal trust is stronger. Most significantly, findings show that this mediated relationship is contingent on the level of task interdependence.
Originality/value
This paper provides evidence for distinguishing vertical trust and horizontal trust in the field of knowledge management. From a managerial perspective, this study identifies traditional cultural factors for hindering knowledge-sharing processes within Chinese organizations.
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