Knowledge-sharing management in the context of higher education institutions

Abstract

Competitive advantage does not depend solely on the creation and storage of existing and new knowledge. Rather, it requires sustained exploitation and production. The challenge becomes driven towards maintaining some mechanisms to help in producing new, and sharing existing knowledge. Harnessing the power of managing and sharing knowledge enabled companies like Apple and IBM to gain competitive advantage over their competitors. While such challenges have been closely examined in the extant literature, the context of knowledge management and sharing in higher education institutions (HEI) has only been lightly considered. However, considering the highly unique features of HEIs context in terms of autonomy, climate, distinct leadership and role of academics as knowledge workers, it can be argued that examining knowledge-sharing in the context of higher education is greatly needed. The literature has shown fragmented nature of examining academics’ KS determinants in contemporary research. Thus, the need to comprehensively examine those influencers is essential. This thesis seeks to address the research gaps and contribute to the literature by asking What antecedents influence the process of knowledge-sharing (KS) between academics in HEIs, and how can the process of KS in HEIs be improved? Through the use of a quantitative research methodology, the research has developed eleven hypotheses to investigate the above-mentioned question. The findings in this study revealed to a very great extent that academics themselves can contribute towards influencing knowledge production and management, and determine the levels to which the universities will be able to share knowledge internally. The research reveals that organizational factors (affiliation, innovativeness, fairness represented by organizational climate and HEI leadership) were stronger predictors of academics’ knowledge-sharing than individual (perceived loss of knowledge power, knowledge self-efficacy, perceived reciprocal benefits and trust) or technological ones.