Knowledge sharing is an important element of knowledge management initiatives in organisations. It is well established in literature that cultural issues play an important role in influencing knowledge sharing practices. This research addresses cultural aspects that influence knowledge sharing within an academic environment. A single case study approach was adopted to explore the influence of culture on knowledgesharing practices within a Kuwaiti higher education institution known as PAAET. The complexity of the issues surrounding how PAAET operates necessitates the use of both quantitative and qualitative methods. Therefore, this research brings together evidence from a range of data collection tools. Thus, the literature review, the findings from a questionnaire survey, interviews and focus groups, and information from existing documents were analysed in order to identify how to promote an effective knowledge-sharing culture at the selected case study organisation. This research adds to the body of knowledge on "knowledge sharing" and extends this knowledge by addressing a total of twenty different factors categorised under four main headings: individual, organisational, national, and cross-cultural issues that both impede and facilitate knowledge sharing within a culture that is very complicated and very different from the Western culture. In addition, this research provides insight into how thesei ssuesm ight be addressedb y recommendings ome actionablep roposalsf or the authorities in the Kuwaiti higher education institute. These proposals offer some issues that could be considered when investigating and implementing successful and effective knowledge-sharing strategies. This research also provides the necessary theoretical underpinning to further develop the topic of knowledge sharing within complex institutions that are influenced by a multiplicity of factors. The research demonstrates that better performance and improved productivity can be achieved by implementing a coherent and balanced knowledge-sharing framework.

Eine wachsende Anzahl von Unternehmen führt Enterprise Social Networks (ESN) ein, um den Wissensaustausch zwischen den Mitarbeitern zu verbessern und neue Möglichkeiten zur Zusammenarbeit zu schaffen. Die Anbieter von ESN-Lösungen versprechen ihren Kunden außerdem eine Erhöhung der Produktivität und Innovationskraft der Mitarbeiter. Häufig können Unternehmen diese Vorteile jedoch nicht realisieren. Gartner prognostizierte 2013, dass 80 Prozent der Unternehmen die mit ihren Social-Business-Initiativen gesteckten Ziele bis 2015 nicht erreichen werden. Zu den häufigsten Gründen für das Scheitern von ESN-Initiativen zählen fehlende Unterstützung durch die Führungskräfte, eine „inkompatible“ Unternehmenskultur, fehlende Business-Ziele sowie eine Unsicherheit in der Belegschaft, wie und wofür das neue Werkzeug genutzt werden kann. Im Vergleich zu externen sozialen Netzwerken entwickeln sich ESN häufig nicht als Selbstläufer und scheitern kurz- oder mittelfristig aufgrund mangelnder Partizipation seitens der Mitarbeiter.

<p>U radu se proučava uticaj pojedninih organizacionih varijabli preko<br />teorije razumne akcije na proces prenošenja znanja. Istražuje se kako<br />i u kojoj meri organizaciona klima određena dimenzijama pripadnosti,<br />pravednosti i inovativnosti i delegirajući stil liderstva utiču na<br />prenošenje znanja između zaposlenih u organizaciji. U tu svrhu su<br />kreirani i validirani upitnici i dizajniran je strukturalni model.<br />Primarni cilj ovog rada je bolje i jasnije razumevanje faktora koji<br />utiču na proces prenošenja znanja između zaposlenih u organizaciji.</p> / <p>This thesis examines the impact of certain organizational variables through<br />the theory of reasoned action on knowledge sharing behavior. It explores<br />how and to what extent organizational climate determined by its dimensions<br />of cohesion, innovativeness and fairness, and empowering leadership affect<br />knowledge sharing behavior of employees in organizations. For this purpose,<br />questionnaires were created and validated and a structural model was<br />designed. The primary objective of this paper is better understanding of<br />factors affecting knowledge sharing behavior of employees in organizations.</p>

The Turkish National Police (TNP) peacekeeping officers experience poor knowledge-sharing practices before, during, and after their tours of duty at the United Nations (UN) field missions, thus causing knowledge loss. The study aims to reveal the current knowledge-sharing practices of the TNP peacekeeping officers and proposes a knowledge-sharing system to share knowledge effectively. It also examines how applicable the knowledge management models are for their knowledge-sharing practices. In order to gain a better understanding about the knowledge-sharing practices of TNP officers, the researcher used a qualitative research method in this study. The researcher used semi-structured interviews in data collection. The participants were selected based on the non-probability and purposive sampling method. Content analysis and constant comparison was performed in the data analysis process. The most important knowledge sources of the peacekeeping officers are their colleagues, the Internet, and email groups. The peacekeepers recommend writing reports, organizing training programs, conducting exit interviews, adopting best practices, and creating a knowledge depository. The study uncovers that organizational culture, hierarchy, and physical proximity are significant factors that have a vital impact on knowledge sharing. Knowledge Conversion Model is substantially applicable for the knowledge-sharing practices of the TNP peacekeeping officer.

In today’s economy, organizational knowledge is a fundamental factor for remaining competitive and managing intellectual capital. Knowledge Management aims to improve organizational performance by designing the work environment with necessary tools. Yet, significant amount of knowledge resides within the people in different forms such as experience or abilities. Transferring individual knowledge within members or into organizational repositories is so difficult. Knowledge sharing only occurs under certain circumstances: People share knowledge when they believe it is beneficial for them, when they feel safe and secure, and when they trust. Since knowledge is power, and brings respect to its bearer, knowledge sharing needs suitable environment. In this context, this study investigates intention to knowledge sharing among forensics in the Turkish National Police (TNP) and the factors -such as perceived organizational justice, organizational citizenship behaviors, subjective norms, and attitudes toward knowledge sharing- affecting their intentions. The researcher utilized a model developed from Ajzen and Fishbein’s (1975; 1980) theory of reasoned action (TRA). To test this model, a self-administered questionnaire survey was administered in Turkey In order to analyze the quantitative data; SPSS version 19 was used for all preliminary analyses and LISREL 8.8 was used for Regression Analysis and Path Analysis The fit of the data to this proposed model was not adequate. However, 7 of the 8 hypotheses supported.

This research aimed to investigate how and why festival volunteers share knowledge in pulsating UK music festival organisations, through an interpretation of volunteers’ lived experiences of knowledge sharing during the event lifecycle. Within the UK music festival sector, competition for leisure spend is high, and successful management of knowledge activities has the ability to improve business, innovation, and competitive advantage. Research across Knowledge Management Studies, Festival Studies, and People and Organisation Studies is dominated by positivist, quantitative research; whereas, this research investigated a fuzzy concept (knowledge) in a socially-constructed world (music festival) and interpreted multiple realities of social actors (volunteers). To do this, a qualitative, phenomenological study was suitable to explore in-depth experiences and unveil meanings attached to them. Purposive sampling using social media resulted in a sample of adult festival volunteers (n=28) being recruited. The methods selected enabled the ability to privilege the participants’ voice and their lived experience; these were diaries (n=11) and in-depth interviews (n=9), or both (n=8). The empirical data generated was interpreted using thematic analysis, using Atlas.ti. The findings of this research illustrate how and why volunteers share knowledge that is attributed to a successful process of volunteering, which enables effective knowledge management and reproduction. Where volunteers’ motivations are satisfied, this leads to bounce-back, episodic volunteering. Knowledge enablers and the removal of barriers create conditions that are conducive for knowledge sharing, which have similar characteristics to conditions for volunteering continuance commitment. Where volunteers do not return, the organisation leaks knowledge. The original contribution of this research is through its use of qualitative phenomenological methods to explore how and why UK music festival volunteers share knowledge.

In a society dependent on knowledge, information and information technology (IT), studying IT-oriented knowledge intensive firms becomes particularly interesting. Previous research has for the most part studied management consulting firms as well as how knowledge management and knowledge management initiatives can support or inhibit the growth of organizations. To further progress this line of research the study intends to fill a gap in research concerning consultants focusing on IT-solutions. Consequently, this study has two equally important purposes. Firstly, the study intends to investigate the application of Ikujiro Nonaka’s Organizational Knowledge Creation Theory on new empirical data. Secondly, this study aims to explain learning processes in the IT-consulting trade. The empirical data used is taken from eight interviews and three qualitative surveys from three different IT-consulting firms in Sweden. By using a multiple-case study design this study simultaneously presents a broad perspective of the IT-consulting trade and a deeper understanding of the knowledge sharing processes used in the different cases. The study has resulted in three major conclusions. (1) There are different types of digital tools that are important for knowledge sharing in organizations. These are digital conversation-rooms, digital pin boards and internal databases. (2) The authors also identify six conditions that are important for knowledge sharing. These conditions are proven to have a complex relationship with the context in which knowledge is shared and the consultants’ choice of digital tools. (3) Lastly the Organizational Knowledge Creation Theory is found to be insufficient in describing the knowledge sharing processes in IT-consulting firms, especially regarding the relation between the socialization and externalization processes. Proposals for future research in relation to the findings are presented.

Aim: The overall aim of the thesis is to describe and understand how Vietnam-based management consulting SMEs retain organizational knowledge in cases of employees’ departure and further develop strategies for knowledge retention. Methodology: Qualitative research via semi-structured interviews in 2 Vietnam-based management consulting SMEs (1 medium-sized company and 1 small company) was conducted. Findings: Knowledge retention is still a rather new concept in the Vietnamese context, interestingly, however; some knowledge retention initiatives have been unconsciously implemented by Vietnam-based management consulting SMEs. Small-sized companies, which suffer more from resource scarcity in terms of human, finance, time, tend to be less active in knowledge retention than medium-size companies. More efforts have been put in retaining tacit knowledge by management consulting SMEs in Vietnam. Among the factors influencing knowledge retention, leadership is seen to be the key factor to decide the successful implementation of knowledge retention of Vietnam-based management consulting SMEs. Vietnamese culture is also found to have indirect impacts (either positive or negative) on knowledge retention through other factors (leadership, organizational culture, personal attitudes), however the effect of national culture on knowledge retention varies from firm to firm, largely depends on SMEs’ leadership. Practical implications: Considering the important roles of leaders in the implementation of knowledge retention, training on leadership skills is highly recommended. Furthermore, trainings on interpersonal skills and personal attitudes towards knowledge retention also need attention. On top of that, it is essential to build up an organizational culture that facilitates knowledge retention and provides appropriate organizational supports (affordable IT systems that suit SMEs’ needs, extrinsic together with intrinsic rewards). Last but not least, knowledge retention activities are recommended to be integrated into daily operations to cope with the issues related to time constraints faced by management consulting SMEs.

Organizations invest in technology to help achieve strategic goals and to disseminate knowledge in order to enhance employee productivity. This study draws upon social cognitive theory as the theoretical basis for an explanation of the limited acceptance of information systems (IS), which undermines organizations' efforts to achieve greater productivity. This empirical study investigated the use of IS in the workplace by examining the antecedents of computer self-efficacy (CSE). Among such antecedents, this study examined the effect on CSE of employees' knowledge sharing, including collegial and technical support, and encouragement by others such as top management, supervisors, and peers to share knowledge. Additionally, it assessed the differences that the control variable, use of social networking tools (SNT), has on CSE and use of IS in the workplace. This research explored the use of SNT as a way individuals share knowledge and encourage computer abilities in the workplace. This causal modeling study investigated the human-assisted CSE dimension, which focuses on one's ability to use IS resulting from the support of another individual. This study solicited 755 participants from five different organizations, with 256 responses (33.9% response rate). The Cronbach Alpha analysis results showed that all constructs were highly reliable. The structural equation model analysis showed that some, but not all, of the hypotheses were supported in this model. This study provided evidence of how the antecedents, knowledge sharing and encouragement by others, affected the constructs of CSE and the use of IS in the workplace. Important contributions of this study include not only the conceptual model itself but also the implication that encouragement by top management, supervisors, and colleagues plays an important part in knowledge-sharing behaviors. Additionally, the study makes a theoretical contribution to the growing body of research on SNT as a way to share knowledge. This study revealed that use of SNT had no significant effect on the constructs measured.

M. Tech. (Logistics, Faculty of Management Sciences) Vaal University of Technology| / The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of knowledge-sharing, business strategy alignment and long-term relationship orientation on supply chain performance in the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector. Particularly, the study sought to examine the hypothesis in the context of SME buyers and their suppliers. SMEs are particularly relevant to both developed and developing countries. In South Africa, SMEs are perceived to be an engine for growth for both the economy and the community. As such, the study sought to investigate underlying variables that influence the supply chain performance of SMEs for the purpose of identifying ways in which the Sector can improve performance. A conceptual model was developed, drawing from the theory of relational cohesion. Small and Medium Enterprises in the province of Gauteng, South Africa formed the population of the study. Essentially, the predicting roles of knowledge-sharing and business strategy alignment on the supply chain performance of SMEs were evaluated. Furthermore the mediating role of long-term relationship orientation was examined. A survey was conducted in the cities of Johannesburg, Vereeniging and Vanderbijlpark and research data was collected from 341 SMEs. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 22 was employed to analyse data as well as Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) 22 where Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was undertaken. The results revealed that the research constructs knowledge-sharing, business strategy alignment and long-term relationship orientation influence supply chain performance in a positive way. The findings realized will contribute to the existing body of buyer-supplier relationships literature and increase our knowledge in the field. Pragmatic implications are provided based on the findings as well as recommendations and avenues for future research.