Conceptual Proposition: The Mediating Role of Social Capital between Knowledge Sharing Factors and Knowledge Sharing
Abstract
Today’s knowledge economy is dependent on proper knowledge management wherein knowledge sharing is critical. This paper presents a conceptual proposition regarding the relationship of commonly known organizational factors and knowledge sharing with social capital of the community of practice as a possible mediator. The extant literature has been reviewed to logically connect the present study with the previous researches. And on the basis of this review research propositions have been developed. The literature review revealed that most of the previous studies have taken into account knowledge based view and resource-based theory in the field of knowledge sharing. These studies have not considered the mediating role of social capital of the community of practice. The research may have many implications. The prepositions presented may provide a base for empirical testing. These propositions may provide insights for the managers for improving the mechanisms of knowledge dissemination within and across the organizations boundaries. Social capital of the community of practice should be examined to ascertain its effects on knowledge sharing in organization. The current study is hoped to open future investigations that lead to the validation of the proposed model that has social capital as an integral part.
References
Abdullah, M. S., Kimble, C., Benest, I., & Paige, R. (2006). Knowledge-based systems: A re-evaluation. Journal of Knowledge Management, 10(3), 127-142.
Al-Alawi, A. I., Al-Marzooqi, N. Y., & Muhammad, Y. F. (2007). Organizational culture and knowledge sharing: Critical success factors. Journal of Knowledge Management, 11(2), 22-42.
Al-Hakim, L. A. Y., & Hassan, S. (2012). Critical success factors of knowledge management, innovation and organisational performance: An empirical study of the Iraqi mobile telecommunication sector. British Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Sciences, 4(1), 31-49.
Alavi, M., & Leidner, D. E. (2001). Review: Knowledge management and knowledge management systems: Conceptual foundations and research issues. Mis Quarterly, 107-136.
Albert, M., & Picq, T. (2004). Knowledge-based organizations: Perspectives from San Francisco Bay area companies. European Journal of Innovation Management, 7(3), 69-177.
Ardichvili, A., Maurer, M., Li, W., Wentling, T., & Stuedemann, R. (2006). Cultural influences on knowledge sharing through online communities of practice. Journal of Knowledge Management, 10(1), 94-107.
Bartol, K. M., & Srivastava, A. (2002). Encouraging knowledge sharing: The role of organizational reward systems. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 9(1), 64-76.
Blankenship, S. S., & Ruona, W. E. (2009). Exploring knowledge sharing in social structures: Potential contributions to an overall knowledge management strategy. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 11(3), 290-306.
Bock, G. W., & Kim, Y.-G. (2002). Breaking the myths of rewards: An exploratory study of attitudes about knowledge sharing. Information Resources Management Journal, 15(2), 14-21.
Borghoff, U. M., & Pareschi, R. (1997). Information technology for knowledge management. Journal of Universal Computer Science, 3(8), 835-842.
Brown, J. S., & Duguid, P. (2001). Knowledge and organization: A social-practice perspective. Organization Science, 12(2), 198-213.
Cabrera, E. F., & Cabrera, A. (2005). Fostering knowledge sharing through people management practices. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 16(5), 720-735.
Carmona-Lavado, A., Cuevas-RodrГguez, G., & Cabello-Medina, C. (2010). Social and organizational capital: Building the context for innovation. Industrial Marketing Management, 39(4), 681-690.
Carneiro, A. (2000). How does knowledge management influence innovation and competiveness? Journal of Knowledge Management, 4(2), 87-.
Chen, C. J., & Hung, S. W. (2010). To give or to receive? Factors influencing members’ knowledge sharing and community promotion in professional virtual communities. Information & Management, 47(4), 226-236.
Chiu, C. M., Hsu, M. H., & Wang, E. T. (2006). Understanding knowledge sharing in virtual communities: An integration of social capital and social cognitive theories. Decision Support Systems, 42(3), 1872-1888.
Chourides, P., Longbottom, D., & Murphy, W. (2003). Excellence in knowledge management: An empirical study to identify critical factors and performance measures. Measuring Business Excellence, 7(2), 29-45.
Chow, W. S., & Chan, L. S. (2008). Social network, social trust and shared goals in organizational knowledge sharing. Information & Management, 45(7), 458-465.
Connelly, C. E., & Kelloway, E. K. (2003). Predictors of employees’ perceptions of knowledge sharing cultures. Leadership & Organization Development Culture, 24(5/6), 294-301.
Cross, R., Parker, A., Prusak, L., & Borgatti, S. P. (2001). Knowing what we know: Supporting knowledge creation and sharing in social networks. Organizational Dynamics, 30(2), 100-120.
Davenport, T. H., & Prusak, L. (2000). Working Knowledge: How Organizations Manage What They Know: Harvard Business School Press, Boston, MA.
DeLong, D., & Fahey, L. (2000). Diagnosing cultural barriers to knowledge management. Academy of Management Executive, 14(4), 113-127.
Donate, M. J., & Guadamillas, F. (2011). Organizational factors to support knowledge management and innovation. Journal of Knowledge Management, 15(6), 890-914.
Dost, M. K. B., Rehman, C. A., Gilaninia, S., Ismail, K. B., & Akram, M. W. (2018). The impact of knowledge management’s practices on supply chain performance of the dairy sector in Central Punjab: A mediating role of decentralization. Economic Research, 31(1), 290-312.
Du Plessis, M. (2007). The role of knowledge management in innovation. Journal of Knowledge Management, 11(4), 20-29.
Earl, M. (2001). Knowledge management strategies: Towards a taxonomy. Journal of Management Information Systems, 18(1), 215-242.
Eisenhardt, K. M., & Santos, F. M. (2002). Knowledge-based view: A new theory of strategy. Handbook of Strategy and Management, 139-164.
Ellis, D., Oldridge, R., & Vasconcelos, A. (2004). Communitiy and virtual community. Annual Review of Information Science and Technology, 38, 145-186.
Fishbein, M., & Ajzen, I. (1975). Beliefs Attitude, Intention and Behavior: An Introduction to Theory and Research: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Philippines.
Gold, A. H., Malhotra, A., & Segars, A. H. (2001). Knowledge management: an organizational capabilities perspective. J. of Management Information Systems, 18(1), 185-214.
Ho, C. (2009). The relationship between knowledge management enablers and performance. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 109(1), 98-117.
Huysman, M., & De Wit, D. (2004). Practices of managing knowledge sharing: Towards a second wave of knowledge management. Knowledge and Process Management, 11(2), 81-92.
Huysman, M., & Wulf, V. (2005). IT to support knowledge sharing in communities, towards a social capital analysis. Journal of Information Technology, 21(1), 40-51.
Ipe, M. (2003). Knowledge sharing in organizations: a conceptual framework. Human Resource Development Review, 2(4), 337-359.
Keyes, J. (2008). Identifying the Barriers to Knowledge Sharing in Knowledge Intensive Organizations: ProQuest.
Kwok, S. H., & Gao, S. (2005). Attitude towards knowledge sharing behavior. Journal of Computer Information Systems, 46(2), 45-51.
Lee, H., & Choi, B. (2003). Knowledge management enablers, processes, and organizational performance: An integrative view and empirical examination. Journal of Management Information Systems, 20(1), 179-228.
Lee, J. H., Kim, Y. G., & Kim, M. Y. (2006). Effects of managerial drivers and climate maturity on knowledge-management performance: empirical validation. Information Resources Management Journal (IRMJ), 19(3), 48-60.
Lesser, E. L., & Fontaine, M. A. (2004). Overcoming knowledge barriers with communities of practice: Lessons learned through practical experience. In P. M. Hildreth & C. Kimble (Eds.), Knowledge Networks: Innovation through Communities of Practice (pp. 14-23): Hershey, PA: Idea Group Publications.
Lesser, E. L., & Storck, J. (2001). Communities of practice and organizational performance. IBM Systems Journal, 40(4), 831-841.
Lin, H.-F. (2007). Knowledge sharing and firm innovation capability: An empirical study. International Journal of Manpower, 28(3/4), 315-332.
Lin, H.-F., & Lee, G.-G. (2006). Effects of socio-technical factors on organizational intention to encourage knowledge sharing. Management Decision, 44(1), 74-88.
McDermott, R., & O’Dell, C. (2001). Overcoming culture barriers to knowledge sharing. Journal of Knowledge Management, 5(1), 76-85.
Muhamed, M., Stankosky, M., & Murray, A. (2006). Knowledge management and information technology: Can they work in perfect harmony? . Journal of Knowledge Management, 3(3), 103-116.
Nahapiet, J., & Ghoshal, S. (1998). Social capital, intellectual capital, and the organizational advantage. Academy of Management Review, 23(2), 242-266.
Ray, L. (2008). Requirement for knowledge management. Journal of Knowledge Management, 12(3), 156-158.
Razmerita, L., Kirchner, K., & Nielsen, P. (2016). What factors influence knowledge sharing in organizations? A social dilemma perspective of social media communication. Journal of Knowledge Management, 20(6), 1225-1246.
Rhodes, J., Hung, R., Lok, P., Lien, B., & Wu, C. (2008). Factors influencing organizational knowledge transfer: Implication for corporate performance. Journal of Knowledge Management, 12(3), 84-100.
Riege, A. (2005). Three-dozen knowledge-sharing barriers managers must consider. Journal of Knowledge Management, 9(3), 18-35.
Schmetz, F. (2002). Introduction to KM in the Public Sector. Knowledge Board, October.
Serenko, A., Bontis, N., & Hardie, T. (2007). Organizational size and knowledge flow: A proposed theoretical link. Journal of Intellectual Capital, 8(4), 610-627.
Stenmark, D. (2001). Leveraging tacit organizational knowledge. Journal of Management Information Systems, 17(3), 9-24.
Teigland, R. (2003). Knowledge Networking: Structure and Performance in Networks of Practice, : Institute of International Business, Stockholm School of Business, Stockholm.
Tohidinia, Z., & Mosakhani, M. (2010). Knowledge sharing behaviour and its predictors. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 110(4), 611-631.
Tsai, W. (2002). Social structure of “coopetition” within a multiunit organization: Coordination, competition, and intraorganizational knowledge sharing. Organization Science, 13(2), 179-190.
Tsui, L., Chapman, S. A., Schnirer, L., & Stewart, S. (2006). A Handbook on Knowledge Sharing: Strategies and Recommendations for Researchers, Policymakers, and Service Providers: Community-University Partnership for the Study of Children, Youth, and Families Edmonton.
Vaccaro, A., Parente, R., & Veloso, F. M. (2010). Knowledge management tools, inter-organizational relationships, innovation and firm performance. Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 77(7), 1076-1089.
Van den Hooff, B., & Huysman, M. (2009). Managing knowledge sharing: Emergent and engineering approaches. Information & Management, 46(1), 1-8.
Wang, S., & Noe, R. A. (2010). Knowledge sharing: A review and directions for future research. Human Resource Management Review, 20(2), 115-131.
Wang, W.-T., & Hou, Y.-P. (2015). Motivations of employees’ knowledge sharing behaviors: A self-determination perspective. Information and Organization, 25(1), 1-26.
Wasko, M. M., & Faraj, S. (2005). Why should I share? Examining social capital and knowledge contribution in electronic networks of practice. MIS Quarterly, 29(1), 35-57.
Wee, S. H. (2012). Important enabler in the knowledge sharing process: Top management support. Paper presented at the International Conference on Innovation Management and Technology Research (ICIMTR), 2012.
Weiss, L. (1999). Collection and connection: The anatomy of knowledge sharing in professional service. Organization Development Journal, 17(4), 61-72.
Wenger, E. (1998). Communities of Practice: Learning, Meaning, and Identity: Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Wenger, E. C., & Snyder, W. M. (2000). Communities of practice: The organizational frontier. Harvard Business Review, 78(1), 139-146.
Willem, A., & Scarbrough, H. (2006). Social capital and political bias: An exploratory study. Human Relations, 59(10), 1343-1370.
Yao, L., Kam, T., & Chan, S. (2007). Knowledge sharing in Asian public administration sector: The case of Hong Kong. Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 20(1), 51-69.
Yeh, Y. J., Lai, S. Q., & Ho, C. T. (2006). Knowledge management enablers: A case study. Industrial Management and Data Systems, 106(6), 793-810.
Yu, S., Kim, Y., & Kim, M. (2007). Do we know what really drives KM performance? Journal of Knowledge Management, 11(6), 39-53.
Zboralski, K. (2009). Antecedents of knowledge sharing in communities of practice. Journal of Knowledge Management, 13(3), 90-101.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2020 Wali Rahman, Jawad Hussain, Fayaz Ali Shah, Haji Rahman
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.