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Motivating knowledge sharing through a knowledge management system

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  • King, William R.
  • Marks, Peter Jr.

Abstract

Based on both economic and sociological theory, the effects of supervisory control and organizational support on the frequency and effort of individuals in contributing their personally held valuable knowledge to a "best practices-lessons learned, repository-based" knowledge management system (KMS) were compared. Supervisory control, as expected, had significant impact on frequency, but it also had unexpectedly significant influence on effort. When system variables--usefulness and ease of use--were controlled for, the organizational support measure had little effect on either outcome. These results provide greater support for economic-agency-theory motivators of knowledge sharing and lesser support for organizational support motivators than has been previously believed. They also emphasize the important impact of systems variables in motivating KMS use. Since the study was conducted in a government (joint civilian-military) organization, the organizational type may significantly influence the results. However, since the result is contrary to the conventional wisdom that suggests that a "knowledge-sharing culture" is all-important, at the very least, this study shows that the nature of the organization may moderate the relationship between the motivational approach and the outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • King, William R. & Marks, Peter Jr., 2008. "Motivating knowledge sharing through a knowledge management system," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 131-146, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jomega:v:36:y:2008:i:1:p:131-146
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    2. Bekaroo, Girish & Bokhoree, Chandradeo & Pattinson, Colin, 2016. "Impacts of ICT on the natural ecosystem: A grassroot analysis for promoting socio-environmental sustainability," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 1580-1595.
    3. Sabahattin Cetin & Ayhan Karakas, 2021. "Effects of emotional intelligence on knowledge sharing among employees: A study of HoReCa companies in Turkey," Upravlenets, Ural State University of Economics, vol. 12(3), pages 44-55, July.
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    6. Ramona – Diana Leon & Adrian Lupu & Anca – Codruþa Manolache, 2011. "Knowledge Management Tools For The European Knowledge Based Society," CES Working Papers, Centre for European Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, vol. 3(4), pages 537-555, December.
    7. Mohajan, Haradhan, 2016. "Sharing of Tacit Knowledge in Organizations: A Review," MPRA Paper 82958, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 15 Jun 2016.
    8. Holsapple, Clyde W. & Lee-Post, Anita, 2010. "Behavior-based analysis of knowledge dissemination channels in operations management," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 38(3-4), pages 167-178, June.
    9. Maria Majewska & Urszula Szulczynska, 2014. "Methods And Practices Of Tacit Knowledge Sharing Within An Enterprise: An Empirical Investigation," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 5(2), pages 35-48, June.
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    12. Donate, Mario J. & Sánchez de Pablo, Jesús D., 2015. "The role of knowledge-oriented leadership in knowledge management practices and innovation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(2), pages 360-370.
    13. Santoro, Gabriele & Vrontis, Demetris & Thrassou, Alkis & Dezi, Luca, 2018. "The Internet of Things: Building a knowledge management system for open innovation and knowledge management capacity," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 347-354.
    14. Ming-Tien Tsai & Hsiu-Ching Chang & Nai-Chang Cheng & Chung-Chang Lien, 2013. "Understanding IT professionals’ knowledge sharing intention through KMS: a social exchange perspective," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 47(5), pages 2739-2753, August.
    15. Perotti, Francesco Antonio & Ferraris, Alberto & Candelo, Elena & Busso, Donatella, 2022. "The dark side of knowledge sharing: Exploring “knowledge sabotage” and its antecedents," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 422-432.
    16. André Luhn & Sergey Aslanyan & Christian Leopoldseder & Pamela Priess, 2017. "An evaluation of knowledge management system's components and its financial and non-financial implications," Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, vol. 5(2), pages 315-329, December.
    17. Halyna Mishchuk & Yuriy Bilan & Liudmyla Pavlushenko, 2016. "Knowledge Management Systems: Issues In Enterprise Human Capital Management Implementation In Transition Economy," Polish Journal of Management Studies, Czestochowa Technical University, Department of Management, vol. 14(1), pages 163-173, December.
    18. Fitri Wulandari & Indi Djastuti & Nuryakin, 2017. "Reassessment of the Entrepreneurial Motivation among Female Business Owners to Enhance SMEs Business Performance in Indonesia," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4A), pages 18-34.
    19. Márcio Oliveira & Paulo Pinheiro & João M. Lopes & José Oliveira, 2022. "How to Overcome Barriers to Sharing Tacit Knowledge in Non-Profit Organizations?," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(3), pages 1843-1874, September.
    20. André Luhn & Sergey Aslanyan & Christian Leopoldseder & Pamela Priess, 2017. "An evaluation of knowledge management system's components and its financial and non-financial implications," Post-Print hal-01706869, HAL.
    21. Sabri Khayati & Samia Karoui Zouaou, 2013. "Perceived Usefulness and Use of Information Technology: the Moderating Influences of the Dependence of a Subcontractor towards His Contractor," Journal of Knowledge Management, Economics and Information Technology, ScientificPapers.org, vol. 3(6), pages 1-1, December.
    22. Natàlia Cugueró-Escofet & Pilar Ficapal-Cusí & Joan Torrent-Sellens, 2019. "Sustainable Human Resource Management: How to Create a Knowledge Sharing Behavior through Organizational Justice, Organizational Support, Satisfaction and Commitment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-20, September.

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