Knowledge sharing in a multi-cultural setting: a case study

Organizational culture has been shown to influence the success of knowledge management practices. Hofstede's theory specifies that organizational culture is not independent of national culture. A case study of an international subsidiary was conducted to explore the extent to which knowledge sharing is dependent on national culture. Results indicate that language differences can create knowledge blocks, and cross-cultural differences can explain the direction of knowledge flows.     

The role of organisational climate in managing knowledge sharing among academics in higher education

Organizations have often implemented Knowledge Management programs to connect employees better and promote knowledge sharing (KS). In the context of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), this is particularly valid as knowledge creation and dissemination direct their mission and vision. Academics are one of the pillars of HEIs, where knowledge is created and shared. Nonetheless, as HEIs strive to promote academics’ knowledge sharing culture, the actual behaviour of academics might remain inhibited by numerous issues, namely the organizational. Prior research has been focused primarily on individual, technological and scarce aspects of organizational elements. Therefore, this study assesses the role of organizational climate operationalized by organizational leadership and trust in academics’ KS in HEIs. Partial Least Square (PLS) method where variance-based Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was applied in this study. Results from 257 surveyed academics indicate that organizational climate has an exceptionally strong influence on academics’ KS practices. Additionally, organizational leadership and trust had a positive relationship with academics’ KS behaviour. These findings indicate that it is necessary to consider organizational elements and their interactions when understanding and fostering academics’ knowledge sharing behaviour in HEIs context.     

The formation of concern for face and its impact on knowledge sharing intention in knowledge management systems

Previous empirical studies have shown that in Chinese culture face is critical for the success of knowledge sharing in knowledge management systems (KMS). However, much less is known about the factors shaping the concern for face and the way they impact on the individual's knowledge sharing intention in KMS. Using data drawn from professionals’ knowledge sharing practices in Taiwanese organizations, this study focuses on a detailed investigation of the concern for face and how it impedes individuals’ knowledge sharing intention in the KMS context. The research findings show that the perfection of authentic self and the scrutiny of others (referred to as others’ watch) together explain 27.7% of the variance in face in relation to public self. In turn, face related to public self explains 20.7% of subjective norms. Finally, face related to public self and subjective norms together account for 41.2% of the variance in knowledge sharing intention. The research findings have important theoretical and managerial implications.     

基于知识治理视角的国内大学知识共享研究

为探索我国大学知识共享行为处于何种水平、受何种机制影响,本研究提出了大学科研团队知识共享的概念模型,探究大学科研团队内知识共享的知识治理机制,并结合中国情境分析了知识治理如何通过主人翁精神的中介作用及学科归属感和科研网络的调节作用来影响知识共享行为。基于409份对中国大学科研团队成员知识共享问卷调查的实证研究表明:正式和非正式知识治理对知识共享均有显著影响;中国特色的主人翁精神对正式知识治理与知识共享的关系起部分中介作用,对非正式知识治理与知识共享的关系起完全中介作用;学科归属感能调节非正式知识治理和知识共享的关系,而科研网络则能调节正式知识治理与知识共享的关系。     

知识共享国内研究综述

知识共享已经成为知识管理理论研究中的重要领域,然而,迄今为止关于知识共享相关概念的研究并不统一,也缺乏对其现有研究的系统梳理,这有碍于知识共享研究领域的进一步发展。基于对国内相关文献的研究,本文采用综合归纳法从3个方面对知识共享进行系统梳理。首先,对知识共享定义和测量维度进行了总结;其次,对共享过程及其影响因素的相关研究进行了归纳;最后,总结现有研究成果的不足并对未来研究进行展望。     

高校图书馆知识分享的实践研究

知识分享作为知识管理的核心,对图书馆知识管理的效果起着决定性作用。作者对知识分享的含义进行了描述,从3个方面指出了知识分享的重要性。并分别从显性知识和隐性知识两方面对高校图书馆知识分享的实践进行了总结,提出了图书馆知识分享的四大保障机制,最后对图书馆知识分享未来的设想提出了自己的看法。     

集体主义导向、知识属性与知识共享行为研究

知识共享行为是一种高度情景嵌入性行为，但以往研究鲜有同时关注文化情景与知识情景对知识共享行为的影响机理。本文选取集体主义导向作为文化情境的代表构念，选取知识的隐性程度、感知的知识个体所有权、感知的知识价值作为知识情景的代表构念，探究了集体主义导向(文化情景)、三类知识属性(知识情景)与知识共享行为之间的关系。通过多源信息(自我+他人汇报)问卷调查，采集了1182份有效数据。研究结果表明：集体主义导向促进知识共享行为；知识的隐性程度和感知的知识个体所有权抑制知识共享行为；感知的知识价值与知识共享行为存在“倒U型”关系；感知的知识个体所有权和感知的知识价值正向调节集体主义导向与知识共享行为间关系。     

集体主义导向、知识属性与知识共享间关系的实证研究：基于情境依赖性视角

知识共享行为是一种高度情景嵌入性行为,但以往研究鲜有同时关注文化情景与知识情景对知识共享行为的影响机理。本文选取集体主义导向作为文化情境的代表构念,选取知识的隐性程度、感知的知识个体所有权、感知的知识价值作为知识情景的代表构念,探究了集体主义导向(文化情景)、三类知识属性(知识情景)与知识共享行为之间的关系。通过多源信息(自我+他人汇报)问卷调查,采集了1182份有效数据。研究结果表明：集体主义导向促进知识共享行为;知识的隐性程度和感知的知识个体所有权抑制知识共享行为;感知的知识价值与知识共享行为存在“倒U型”关系;感知的知识个体所有权和感知的知识价值正向调节集体主义导向与知识共享行为间关系。     

Extending lead user theory to users’ innovation-related knowledge sharing in the online user community: The mediating roles of social capital and perceived behavioral control

The research on users as a source of innovation has been coming into blossom and the studies about the effect of users’ lead userness on their innovation-related activities are drawing more and more attention from both academic and business circles. However, there have been few empirical studies exploring the relationship between users’ lead userness and their innovation-related knowledge sharing behavior in the context of online user community and the mediating effects of users’ social capital and their perceived behavioral control on this relationship. By empirically analyzing the 140 data collected from an online user community that is used as an important source of innovation for a company with the structural equation modeling analysis through the partial least squares method, this study reveals that users’ lead userness has a positive relationship with their innovation-related knowledge sharing in the online user community and users’ social capital and perceived behavioral control jointly and fully mediate this positive relationship. Based on the new findings, this study is expected to provide useful implications which can contribute to widening and deepening the research stream about the effect of users’ lead userness on their innovation-related knowledge sharing in the online user community.     

Trust as an antecedent to knowledge sharing in virtual communities of practice

This study focusses on the role of trust in knowledge sharing within the context of virtual communities of practice. Trust is widely accepted as an important enabler of knowledge management (KM) processes. We conceptualise trust across three dimensions, namely: competence, integrity and benevolence; we test hypotheses as to the effect of these facets of trust on knowledge sharing by surveying an intra-organisational global virtual community of practitioners. The results indicate that all three dimensions of trust are positively related to knowledge-sharing behaviour. Trust based on the perceived integrity of the community was found to be the strongest predictor of knowledge-sharing behaviour. Our findings suggest that the dimensions of trust buttress each other; although they are theoretically distinct, they appear to be empirically inseparable. We propose that in order for knowledge sharing to be enabled, trust must concurrently exist in all three dimensions. Implication to organisations in their recruitment policy is to include competence, integrity and benevolence in their sought-for attributes of new employees. KM practitioners also have to encourage these attributes in existing employees, who are potential members of on-line communities of practice. Knowledge sharing itself was conceptualised with three components – quantity (frequency), quality (usefulness or value) and focus (the degree to which an individual feels that they engage in knowledge sharing). Of the three components, focus exhibits the most significant relationship with trust factors. This finding makes knowledge sharing less tangible than perhaps would be expected. It suggests that establishing whether knowledge has been shared is more than counting the frequency or trying to evaluate the usefulness of the shared knowledge. These aspects are important especially to management, but to the individual who shares knowledge, her feelings of having shared knowledge appear to be more important. With the current understanding that knowledge sharing is more of a human activity than technology, it is important that any information system should be assistive in boosting users’ confidence that they are indeed sharing knowledge. If the systems do not re-enforce the users’ knowledge-sharing orientation, knowledge sharing may be discouraged. Notwithstanding the point made about knowledge-sharing focus, it is necessary to take into consideration all the components of knowledge sharing to fully capture the concept. This was well indicated when the combined variable of all (rather than individual) knowledge-sharing items had the strongest correlation with trust factors.

     

农户间知识共享研究述评

基于已有文献的回顾,归纳并重新界定农户间知识共享的内涵,建立农户间知识共享要素、过程、功能的三维度分析框架,包括分析农户间知识共享的主体、客体、信息渠道以及共享环境等要素;系统讨论农户间知识共享的知识溢出、知识学习、知识转移及知识创新过程;综合考察农户间知识共享行为推动农户技术采用,进而实现农业技术推广,完善农业产业链发展的积极作用。最后,结合三维分析框架和我国农业产业发展的新形势,提出四点具有潜力的研究方向,以期为后来研究者提供启示与指引。     

开放视角下企业的知识治理和隐性知识共享

    隐性知识为企业技术创新及可持续发展提供了支撑,共享、整合和利用企业内外部隐性知识的研究得到学者们的广泛关注,但现有文献对如何促进组织间隐性知识共享的关注甚少。本文选取中国东部地区的186家知识密集型企业为调查对象,探讨开放情境下核心企业的知识治理与组织间隐性知识共享的关系。研究发现：知识治理对组织间隐性知识共享具有正向影响,组织开放度在市场型和层级型知识治理对组织间隐性知识共享的影响中均具有显著的调节作用,但在社会型知识治理对组织间知识共享影响中的调节作用不显著。该研究可为企业在创新网络中获得基于知识治理的创新和竞争优势提供借鉴。     

Patterns of gaining and sharing of knowledge about customers: a study of an Express Parcel Delivery Company

Knowledge sharing is an acknowledged pre-requisite for effective knowledge management. There is an extensive literature upon knowledge sharing practices and potential barriers. There is increasing recognition of the value of knowledge about customers within organisations. There are often several distinct avenues through which such knowledge is channelled. An assessment tool of knowledge flows is used to identify patterns in knowledge sharing for different facets of knowledge about customers within a case study organisation. An analysis is undertaken of sharing of knowledge about customers among customer service, sales and operations management teams, within the teams with peers, horizontally with other teams, and vertically within the organisation. The study demonstrates that it is possible to identify patterns of sharing knowledge about customers. The research highlights the value of the approach towards analysing knowledge sharing in organisations generally.     

知识共享环境对项目成员知识共享活动的影响机制

构建了知识共享环境对项目成员知识共享活动的影响机制理论模型并进行实证研究.结果表明,知识共享战略、知识共享激励、知识共享氛围以及项目团队互动四个关键性知识共享环境因素与项目成员知识共享活动之间存在密切的正相关关系,构建良好的知识共享环境,可以有效促进项目成员的知识共享活动.     

师徒模式下隐性知识共享的障碍及解决方案

针对师徒模式下隐性知识的共享，本文从能力因素、经济因素、情感因素和环境因素四个方面提出了影响隐性知识共享的障碍，给出了消除和解决这些障碍的优化方案，并提出了研究现状及后续研究的问题。     

互联网知识共享平台信息过载效应与弱化机制——基于知乎的案例研究

【目的/意义】信息过载效应成为了制约互联网知识共享平台发展的一大阻碍,本研究致力于探索弱化信息 过载的有效机制。【方法/过程】采用单案例纵向研究方法,选取知乎这一知识共享平台为研究对象,并基于其社区 阶段和平台阶段的动态演变加以研究。【结果/结论】研究发现了互联网知识共享平台弱化信息过载效应的系统机 制--高质信息“生成-选择-传播”机制,并基于知乎发展的不同阶段,发现了上述机制的动态演变性,丰富了信息 过载弱化机制的系统视角,推进了知识共享相关研究在互联网情境下的发展,为互联网知识共享平台提供了切实 可行的管理启示。     

Examining gender differences in people’s information-sharing decisions on social networking sites

Information systems research provides increasing evidence that women and men differ in their use of information technology. However, research has not sufficiently explained why these differences exist. Using the theory of reasoned action and social role theory, this paper investigates gender differences in people’s decisions about information sharing in the context of social networking sites (SNSs). We developed a comparative model of the information-sharing decision process across genders and theoretically explained why these differences exist. Data was collected from an online survey taken by American SNS users. We found that privacy risks, social ties, and commitment were more important in the formation of attitudes toward information sharing for women than men. Gender significantly moderates the relationship between people’s perceptions of information sharing and their intention to share information. This paper provides an enhanced understanding of gender differences in people’s decisions about sharing information on SNSs. It advances gender differences research into the use of newly emerged information technology and provides researchers insightful views of the role that gender plays in the social media era. Being aware of the research findings, practitioners may better engage their targeted stakeholders on SNSs and collect more useful information for business purposes.     

Information,knowledge and collaboration management in the internationalisation of SMEs: A systematic literature review

Information and knowledge can be seen as key resources for improving the internationalisation processes of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Collaboration has also been considered as an important facilitator of these processes, particularly by nurturing information and knowledge sharing. However, the current literature is unclear about the way SMEs can access information and assimilate knowledge in a collaborative network context, to support decision-making. This paper systematically reviews the literature, examining the role of information, knowledge and collaboration in internationalisation decisions of SMEs. To this end, 38 relevant journal articles were analysed, with the identification of some important issues, as well as gaps in the existing empirical knowledge. This analysis provided valuable input for the development of research suggestions and directions for future work in this area.     

Towards a sustainable quality of university research: knowledge sharing

It is claimed that by providing a sustainable environment, a university’s research profile can be enhanced. Questions then arise about how universities define sustainability, what criteria are used to judge sustainable quality in research, and how a university can maintain sustainable research quality? This paper places emphasis on sustainable quality of research from the perspective of knowledge sharing. It is argued that effective sharing of knowledge among academics could lead to improved university research performance. It is most important that universities establish credible leadership influences on knowledge sharing. We apply Beer’s Viable System Model to identify those domains of research leadership and knowledge sharing that are necessary for an institution to maintain sustainable quality in research. This paper considers examples of research-knowledge sharing in U.K. research communities, and explores a positive relationship between research leadership and research-knowledge sharing.     

基于GABP的企业内知识共享风险预测研究

企业内知识共享风险是影响企业知识管理活动成败的直接因素,做好企业知识共享风险预测工作,能够有效地评估风险发生的可能性,帮助企业及时做好事前控制。首先,在相关学者研究成果的基础上定义了知识共享风险的概念,并对企业内知识共享风险从直接风险和间接风险两个方面进行识别,并从知识、人员、组织以及技术4个方面分析知识共享风险产生的原因,在此基础上构建了企业内知识共享风险评价指标体系。然后,将遗传算法和BP神经网络两者结合起来,建立了GABP的企业内知识共享风险预测模型,利用MATLAB软件进行仿真研究,得知该模型能够较为精确地评估企业内知识共享风险大小。