Determinants of the individual's knowledge sharing behavior

Abstract

Many CEOs and managers understand the importance of knowledge sharing among their employees and are eager introduce the knowledge management paradigm in their organizations. However little is known about the determinants of the individual’s knowledge sharing behavior. The purpose of this study was to develop an understanding of the factors affecting the individual’s knowledge sharing behavior in the organizational context. The research model includes various constructs based on social exchange theory, social cognitive theory, self-theory, and theory of reasoned action. Research results from the field survey of 154 employees of 27 organizations over 16 industries show that expected associations and fairness of the organization are the major determinants of the individual’s attitude toward knowledge sharing and reference group pressure on knowledge sharing. Expected rewards and the level of IT usage of the individual, believed by many as the most important motivating factor for knowledge sharing, were testified as facilitating conditions, not as fundamental forces to change knowledge sharing behavior. As expected, positive attitude toward knowledge sharing and reference group pressure were found to lead to positive intention to share knowledge and, finally, to actual knowledge sharing behaviors.