Successfully sharing knowledge: Empirical evidence on the influence of managerial factors

Abstract

Knowledge is an intangible and vital resource that is an important source of competitive advantage; however, the technologies that help create, store, and transfer knowledge are hindered by unrealistic expectations and ambiguity, and the measurement of knowledge‐sharing activities is both difficult and complex. Compounding this is the deficit of empirical studies on the factors that influence the knowledge‐sharing process. We endeavored to provide empirical evidence on these interactions using a survey developed from a prior extensive systematic literature review. The previously identified factors that were in the current study tested comprised (1) organizational culture, (2) formal processes, (3) top‐down support, (4) motivation, (5) clear strategy, and (6) quality of technology. In order, the most influential factors were organizational culture, top‐down support, motivation, and quality of technology. This study is a promising start to the exploration of the factors used in knowledge sharing and should be expanded to include new industries and contexts.