Purpose Academics research productivity is the pinnacle issue of higher learning institution (HLI) quest for providing the best service for the community and a country’s as a whole. Being productive in their area of expertise will determine how far HLI can challenge for the best education in the world. In lieu of this, knowledge sharing (KS) behavior determinants are assessed to determine what factors that can contribute to academic’s research productivity. Design/methodology/approach A quota sampling method was applied in selecting academics from public and private universities in Malaysia. A partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used for analysis. Findings The results show that academics productivity explained variance is 22.6 per cent. This suggests that academics KS behavior has substantial impact on research productivity. As for determinants of academic’s attitude, academics commitment, trust and social network constituted an explained variance of 36.4 per cent. Management support has an explained variance of 38.7 per cent towards subjective norm, while facilitating condition and social media has an explained variance of 26.5 per cent towards perceived behavioral control (PBC). Academics KS intention and KS behavior explained variance were 62.1 and 47.1 per cent, respectively. Research limitations/implications All the hypotheses result in significant relationship except for H1, commitment toward attitude. The impact of this study will be discussed in term of its theoretical and managerial perspectives. Originality/value The KS behavior in a multiracial and multinational country in Malaysia can be a benchmark for Asian countries in general.

Purpose This paper aims to understand the factors that can determine the knowledge sharing (KS) intention and behaviour of academics in Malaysian higher learning institutes (HLIs), thus affecting academics research productivity. Design/methodology/approach The study’s respondents were 525 academics from public and private HLI in Malaysia. This study adapts theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and social capital theory (SCT) to determine academics KS intention and behaviour of academics and the factors that can influence along the KS process. Findings Results indicate that among the factors of academics KS behaviour, there are two factors that are not significant, commitment and perceived cost, while the rest showed significant results. The strongest factors are management support and social media use among academics. The result also shows that academics intention to share is explained by 62.1 per cent of the variance, while academics KS behaviour is explained by 47.1 per cent of the variance. Research limitations/implications This study shows the high intention and behaviour of sharing among Malaysian academics and suggests that academics in this country are cautious and aware of the importance of knowledge for human capital and development of nation. Practical implications This paper facilitates university in hiring academics that support KS activities. Originality/value The integration of TPB and SCT in evaluating Malaysian academics KS behaviour can eventually affect the research productivity. Furthermore, addition of several variables, such as perceived cost, facilitating conditions make this study a holistic model to predict academic research performance.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate Muslim academics’ knowledge sharing (KS) behavior and its relating predictors in the context of Malaysia. Academics being the center entity of education in higher learning institutions (HLI) has the noble obligation in spreading and sharing knowledge. Moreover, in Islamic teaching, academics having knowledge must let others know that knowledge can be beneficial in everyday life. Design/methodology/approach The underpinning theories used in this study are theory of planned behavior (TPB) and social capital theory (SCT) for assessing the probable factors that can determine academics’ KS behavior. This study evaluates 398 Muslim academics in Malaysia for KS behavior in 20 public and 5 private HLIs. Structural equation modeling–partial least square was used as the tool for data analysis. Findings It was found that all the variables tested in this study were significant, except for commitment. Social network, trust, management support, facilitating conditions and social media are significant predictors in Muslim academics’ KS behavior. Research limitations/implications The findings would enable HLIs to inculcate and enhance KS among academics in terms of theoretical and managerial perspectives. Originality/value This study integrates TPB, SCT and other individual, organizational and technological factors for assessing Muslim academics in Malaysia. Thus, generalization on Muslim academics can be attained in South Asian countries.