Knowledge sharing mechanisms characteristics and roles in knowledge sharing

KNOWLEDGE SHARING MECHANISMS: CHARACTERISTICS AND ROLES IN KNOWLEDGE SHARING LIU WENTING A THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL AND SYSTEMS ENGINEERING NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE 2013 Declaration I hereby declare that this thesis is my original work and it has been written by me in its entirety. I have duly acknowledged all the sources of information which have been used in the thesis. This thesis has also not been submitted for any degree in any university previously. ______________________ Liu Wenting 01 May 2014 iii Acknowledgement The completion of this thesis marks a milestone in my life. Many people help me realized this achievement and I cannot express my appreciation enough in this short acknowledgement. Foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my advisor A/P Chai Kah-Hin for the continuous support. I was always inspired by his motivation, patience and enthusiasm. His guidance and immense knowledge is the strongest support in all the time of research and preparation of the thesis. I feel being blessed to have Dr. Chai as my supervisor in all of the years study. Special thanks to my committee, A/P Poh Kim-Leng, A/P Tan Kay Chuan and the examiner(s) for their support, guidance and helpful suggestions for my research proposal and thesis. I was also indebted to Dr. Annapoornima M. Subramanian, for her time, interest, and helpful comments. I also want to thank Jason Zhou for his generous help in the collection of survey data in China. I would like to thank my family for all their love and continuous encouragement. For my parents who supported me in all my pursuits, and encouraged me to overcome any difficulties I encountered. For the presence of my boyfriend Cheng Yu-Chao here at NUS who never failed to cheer me up for all of these years. My time at NUS was made enjoyable due to the many friends and groups that became a part of my life. I am grateful for time spent with roommates and friends, Zhang Si, Yan Yuanjun, Jin Dayu, Liu Hongmei, Lan Yuhong, Ding Yi, and for many other people and memories. iv Table of Contents Declaration iii Acknowledgement . iv Table of Contents . v Summary viii List of Tables . xi List of Figures . xii List of Acronyms . xiii Chapter Introduction 1.1. Background .1 1.2. Objectives of the Thesis 1.3. Developments and Outline of the Thesis Chapter Knowledge Sharing Mechanisms: Effects of Mechanism Characteristics, Social Influences and Behavior Controls 10 2.1. Introduction .10 2.2. Literature Review .12 2.2.1. Knowledge Sharing . 12 2.2.2. Knowledge Sharing Mechanisms 12 2.2.3. Reach and Richness of Knowledge Sharing Mechanisms . 14 2.2.4. Knowledge Sharing Process 14 2.2.5. Theory of Planned Behavior 16 2.2.6. Technology Acceptance Model . 17 2.2.7. Integrate the TAM with the TPB . 17 2.3. Research Hypotheses 19 2.3.1. Perceived Reach and Richness 19 2.3.2. Perceived Ease of Use . 21 2.3.3. Subjective norms . 22 2.3.4. Perceived behavior control 22 2.3.5. Reach and Subjective Norm 23 2.3.6. Richness and Subjective Norm 23 2.3.7. Reach and Perceived Behavior Control . 24 2.3.8. Richness and Perceived Behavior Control 25 2.4. Research Methodology .26 2.5. Data Analysis 28 2.5.1. Assessment of Reflective Construct Reliability and Validity . 31 2.5.2. Assessment of Formative Construct Reliability and Validity . 32 2.5.3. Structural Models 33 2.5.4. Unsupported Hypotheses . 38 2.6. Discussion and Conclusion .40 Chapter A Cognitive-affective Approach: Towards a Balanced View of Knowledge Sharing Needs on Social Media 43 3.1. Introduction .43 3.2. Social Media Landscape .45 3.3. Social Media Characteristics 46 3.4. Factors Affecting Online Knowledge Contribution 51 3.4.1. Lens of Social Capital Theory . 52 3.4.2. Lens of Social Cognitive Theory . 53 3.5. Factors Affecting Online Knowledge Seeking .55 3.5.1. Social Capital Theory 55 3.5.2. Social Cognitive Theory 56 3.6. To Fill in the Gap and Remedy the Conflicts: A Balanced CognitiveAffective Framework 57 v Chapter Why Will I Share? Examining Knowledge Contribution on Social Media 61 4.1. Introduction .61 4.2. Interaction Model from Socio-Technical Perspective 63 4.3. Research Hypotheses 65 4.3.1. Cognitive Needs on Social Media . 65 4.3.1.1 Transparency and Reputation Attainment 65 4.3.1.2 Transparency and Reciprocity Expectation 66 4.3.1.3 Transparency and Community Identity 67 4.3.1.4 Transparency and Self-worth 68 4.3.1.5 Transparency and Effort Concern . 69 4.3.1.6 Transparency and Privacy Concern 71 4.3.2. Affective Needs on Social Media 72 4.3.2.1. Transparency and Trust . 72 4.3.2.2. Interactivity and Trust 73 4.3.2.3. Interactivity and Altruism 73 4.3.2.4. Interactivity and Safety Concern . 74 4.3.2.5. Interactivity and Enjoyment 74 4.4. Research Methodology .76 4.4.1. Sampling and Data Collection . 77 4.4.2. Measures 79 4.5. Results Analysis 80 4.5.1. Assessment of Construct Reliability and Validity . 81 4.5.2. Marker Variable Method . 82 4.5.3. Structural Models 83 4.6. Discussion and Implications .88 4.6.1. Research Implications . 88 4.6.2. Managerial Implications 90 4.6.3. Conclusions . 94 Chapter Why Should I Seek? Examining Knowledge Seeking on Social Media . 96 5.1. Introduction .96 5.2. Literature Review .98 5.3. Research Hypotheses 99 5.3.1. Cognitive Needs on Social Media . 99 5.3.1.1. Content Integration and Information Resource . 99 5.3.1.2. Networking Facility and Contact Resource . 100 5.3.1.3. Transparency and Effort Concern . 101 5.3.1.4. Networking Facility and Self-Knowledge Growth . 102 5.3.2. Affective Needs on Social Media 103 5.3.2.1. Networking Facility, Transparency and Trust . 103 5.3.2.2. Transparency and Receptive Mood . 105 5.3.2.3. Transparency and Safety Concern . 106 5.4. Research Methodology and Results Analysis .107 5.4.1. Measurement and Data Collection 107 5.4.2. Analysis Methods 108 5.4.3. Measurement Model 108 5.4.4. Structural Model 109 5.5. Discussion and Implications .113 5.6. Conclusion 115 Chapter Conclusions and Contributions . 117 vi 6.1. 6.2. 6.3. Overview .117 Research Findings .117 Contributions and Implications .119 6.3.1. Theoretical Contributions 120 6.3.2. Practical Implications 124 6.4. Limitations 126 6.5. Directions for Future Research .127 Reference 131 Appendices 151 Appendix A Measurement Development of Study 151 Appendix B Questionnaire of Study .154 Appendix C Descriptive Analysis of Study 166 Appendix D Measurement Development of Study and Study 168 Appendix E Online Survey of Study and on Knowledge Sharing Behavior on Social Media .173 vii Summary Many organizations expend huge efforts to promote knowledge sharing but not reap the expected benefits (Brown, 1989). Despite a plethora of technical solutions, many organizations still feel the pain of seeing work replicated in different geographies and business units because people are just not aware of what others have done. The lack of sufficient adoption of knowledge sharing mechanisms within the organization and the mismatch of knowledge management tools and knowledge sharing needs are the major problems in knowledge management. Therefore, thorough and in-depth research on the characteristics and roles that knowledge sharing mechanisms play in fostering knowledge sharing is required to solve the puzzle. This research aims to offer new insights towards the use of knowledge sharing mechanisms, the adoption of knowledge sharing mechanisms in organizations and the use of the new advent of social media. Three studies are presented in this thesis which aims to address two research objectives. The first research objective is to establish a thorough understanding of when to choose certain mechanisms according to the knowledge sharing process. To achieve this, Chapter reports a study proposing a framework that connects technical characteristics of knowledge sharing mechanisms with the knowledge sharing stages to improve intra-firm knowledge sharing performance. Building on previous research, two dimensions of technical “Reach” and “Richness” are used to characterize the capabilities of knowledge sharing mechanisms. Two stages of the knowledge sharing process, namely the awareness stage and the transfer stage, are studied in the matching of characteristics and knowledge sharing processes. Survey results confirm the hypotheses that mechanisms with a high degree of Reach are more likely to be used at the awareness stage, while mechanisms with a high degree of Richness are more likely to be used at the transfer stage. In addition, the contingencies of the effects that technical characteristics impose on knowledge sharing selection are investigated. Taking an integrative perspective of the technology acceptance model and the theory of planned behavior, Chapter examines the moderating effects of subjective norm and perceived behavior control on the causal relationships between mechanism characteristics and knowledge viii sharing mechanism selection. That is, we argue that the effects of the Reach and Richness of knowledge sharing mechanisms may be affected by social and facilitating conditions. Survey results partially confirm the hypotheses that the effects of Reach and Richness are intensified with social supports encouraging the use of the mechanisms. The results imply that technical characteristics alone may not be sufficient if there is no support from peers or management in the organization. The second research objective is to explore the effects of social media characteristics on knowledge contributions and seeking willingness. The studies related to this objective are reported in Chapter (Literature Review), Chapter (Knowledge Contribution) and Chapter (Knowledge Seeking). Specifically, Chapter presents the literature related to knowledge sharing needs and social media characteristics from a knowledge contribution and knowledge seeking perspective. Chapter presents a study that proposes hypotheses and reports survey results where social media characteristics affect knowledge contribution willingness. Data from 204 employees of five financial service firms in China partially confirms the interaction effects between social media characteristics (i.e., transparency and interactivity) and knowledge contribution needs. Chapter presents the hypotheses in regard to knowledge seeking using social media with empirical evidence from a large scale survey. The survey results show that cognitive and affective needs are significant antecedents to the willingness to seek knowledge via social media. Most of the interaction effects of social media characteristics (i.e., transparency, networking facility and content integration) on cognitive as well as affective needs are supported. Taken together, our three studies (Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter and Chapter 5) make three contributions to the literature. The first study (i.e., Chapter 2) provides empirical evidence and suggestions on what and when knowledge sharing mechanisms should be used. To our knowledge, no such study has been conducted before. Our second contribution, which is made by Chapter 3, is the first to adopt a cognitive-affective approach and examine knowledge contribution needs, as well as knowledge seeking needs, from a holistic view. Our third contribution, which is collectively made by the second and third studies (i.e., Chapter and Chapter 5), is developing measures of ix social media characteristics that are specific to the examination of the use of knowledge sharing mechanisms, and address how to fill knowledge sharing needs for better knowledge sharing willingness through social media characteristics. To our knowledge, this research is a pioneer in its investigation of social media capabilities from a systematic view and the first to explicate the value of social media on knowledge sharing. This research also provides suggestions on the design of social media to encourage knowledge contribution and knowledge seeking by users. x Perceived Transparency Please indicate how you agree or disagree with the following statements. Content Integration Please indicate how you agree or disagree with the following statements. Perceived Interactivity Please indicate how you agree or disagree with the following statements.  PT1: I believe the information provided by the knowledge source’s/the knowledge seeker’s profile is true.  PT2: I can see the complete information on the knowledge source’s/the knowledge seeker’s profile.  PT3: I can get timely notification if there is any update from the knowledge source/the knowledge seeker on the social media.  PT4: The knowledge source’s/the knowledge seeker’s friend list is visible to me.  PT5: The review or comment history and record related to the knowledge source/the knowledge seeker is visible to me.  PT6: The community or group discussion activity of the knowledge source/knowledge seeker can be followed up.  CC1: I can search and retrieve any information of interest on the online social media.  CC2: The contents or information from other online social media services can be easily imported into this social media platform.  CC3: I can trace back and find the knowledge source’s profile if I am interested in the knowledge he supplies.  CC4: The social media will recommend and highlight information of interest to me.  PI1: It is easy for me to initiate a talk with my knowledge source/knowledge seeker.  PI2: I can build up a personal connection with the knowledge source/knowledge seeker on the social media.  PI3: I can interact with the knowledge source/knowledge seeker to in the same discussion group or discussion thread on the social media.  PI4: The social media would enable me to learn or react to others’ feedback immediately. Dependent Variables (1. “Strongly Disagree”; 7. “Strongly Agree”) Knowledge Sharing Attempt The degree to which the sender actively tries to share knowledge with the recipient. Please indicate how you agree or disagree with the following statements. Knowledge Sharing Success The degree to which knowledge is successfully transferred from the sender to the recipient. Please indicate how you agree or disagree with the following statements. 171  KSA1: I attempted to teach this knowledge to my recipient.  KSA2: I made an effort to transfer this knowledge to my recipient.  KSA3: I tried to share this knowledge with my recipient.  KSS1: I successfully transferred this knowledge to my recipient.  KSS2: I was successful in sharing this knowledge with my recipient. Learning Attempt The seeker's observable intention to learn the knowledge that the sender tries to share. Please indicate how you agree or disagree with the following statements. Knowledge Learning Success The degree to which knowledge is successfully learned by the knowledge seeker. Please indicate how you agree or disagree with the following statements. Gender Control Variables What is your  Male gender?  Female Working experience Length of fulltime working experience What is your estimated length of total full-time working experience? Education background Education background Which degree did you hold? Job function Job Function Which function you serve? Job title Job title Please indicate the title you possess? Gender 172  LA1: I made an effort to acquire the knowledge that the sender transferred  LA2: I tried to learn the knowledge from the sender  KSS1: I successfully learned the knowledge from my knowledge source.  KSS2: I was successful in learning the knowledge from my knowledge source.       < years – years – years – 10 years 11 – 13 years > 13 years                   Diploma holder Degree holder Master holder PhD holder Engineering / Process Development Quality R&D / Product development Marketing / Sales Finance Consulting General Management Others Consultant Business Analyst Manager General Manager Director (or higher) Others Appendix E Online Survey of Study and on Knowledge Sharing Behavior on Social Media 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 [...]... interactions between knowledge sharing processes and knowledge sharing mechanisms characteristics The lack of comprehensive understanding of knowledge sharing characteristics leads to piecemeal approaches to the design and deployment of knowledge sharing system Therefore, a closer examination of knowledge sharing mechanism characteristics and their interactions with knowledge sharing process is needed... information and know-how (e.g., Wang and Noe, 2010) Many researchers use the terms knowledge and information interchangeably in knowledge sharing research We adopt this perspective by considering knowledge as information processed by individuals including ideas, facts, expertise, and judgments to drive actions (Wang and Noe, 2010) 2.2.2 Knowledge Sharing Mechanisms Knowledge sharing mechanism states how and. .. studied in the match of characteristics and knowledge sharing process This study investigates specified characteristics of knowledge sharing mechanism, and understands why some characteristics are outweighed by others at some stage of knowledge sharing process Secondly, it is to further the understanding by examining the contingency effects that technical characteristic influences on knowledge 3 sharing. .. shows conflicting findings, indicating the lack of an overall framework that addresses how mechanisms should be used and selected in knowledge sharing process 10 Most research on knowledge sharing mechanisms, with a few exceptions, does not adequately relate the characteristics of knowledge sharing mechanism, social influences and facilitating conditions within an organization to the choice of mechanisms. .. (2006) and Song et al (2007) concluded that effective knowledge sharing and dissemination in R&D organizations requires a broad and balanced portfolio comprising IT co-location approaches Considering the debates being held, to obtain an integrated and convincing answer, we build our research on characteristics of knowledge sharing mechanism, reach and richness, rather than one or two specific knowledge sharing. .. when to choose what mechanisms in the knowledge sharing process This study proposes a framework which connects technical characteristics of knowledge sharing mechanisms with specific knowledge sharing stages for better intra-firm knowledge sharing Two dimensions, namely “Reach” and “Richness”, characterize the capabilities of knowledge sharing mechanisms Two stages, the awareness stage and the transfer... were investigated and answered First, what are the salient factors affecting knowledge sharing in social media contexts? Second, why are two complementary sides of knowledge sharing needed, namely; knowledge contribution and knowledge seeking perspective? Third, what are the social media characteristics and their roles in knowledge sharing? Scholars have for many years sought to better understand the... people be aware of the presence and location of useful knowledge that can be reused Mechanisms with a high degree of Richness enable members in the organization to transfer knowledge effectively This study is among the pioneer investigations defining and investigating the Reach and Richness of knowledge sharing mechanisms and their influences on the use of knowledge sharing mechanisms Furthermore, survey... supporting interactions, nurturing personal relationship, and providing multiple cues for sense-making (Sambamurthy et al., 2003; Hildreth and Kimble, 2004; Overby et al., 2006) The concept of Richness in this study is refined to include three distinct dimensions: immediacy of feedback, language variety, and personal focus of knowledge sharing mechanisms 2.2.4 Knowledge Sharing Process The knowledge sharing. .. the characteristics of knowledge sharing mechanisms and the selection of mechanisms at two knowledge sharing stages, awareness and transfer stage To help facilitate bottom-up knowledge sharing between employees, organizations need to ensure that they have a balanced combination of mechanisms by addressing different needs at the awareness and transfer stages of knowledge sharing Mechanisms with a high . Literature Review 12 2.2.1. Knowledge Sharing 12 2.2.2. Knowledge Sharing Mechanisms 12 2.2.3. Reach and Richness of Knowledge Sharing Mechanisms 14 2.2.4. Knowledge Sharing Process 14 2.2.5 management tools and knowledge sharing needs are the major problems in knowledge management. Therefore, thorough and in- depth research on the characteristics and roles that knowledge sharing mechanisms. knowledge sharing mechanisms. Two stages of the knowledge sharing process, namely the awareness stage and the transfer stage, are studied in the matching of characteristics and knowledge sharing