
Developing a holistic framework of key categories of influences that shape knowledge sharing from an individual perspective Alexander Schauer Submitted for the degree of PhD in Knowledge Management University of Sheffield, Information School Submitted July 2014 Acknowledgements I am very thankful for the extensive support that I have received from numerous people over the course of this thesis. Firstly I want to recognise my primary supervisor Dr. Ana C Vasconcelos and my second supervisor Dr. Barbara Sen. They have given me invaluable advice on theoretical aspects and provided me with extensive, constructive feedback to move the thesis towards completion. Secondly I would like to acknowledge the altruistic support and practical advice received from Donna G., Dr. Helen Partridge, Nick H. and of course my girlfriend, parents and grandmother. Thirdly I want to thank the friendly and helpful staff and colleagues at the Information School at the University of Sheffield who have always been open to hear the countless questions and queries I have had. Lastly, but definitely not least, without the generous time that interviewees have given me, no findings would have emerged and it would not have been possible to complete the thesis – thank you all. i Abstract The aim of this thesis is to develop a holistic framework that depicts key categories of influences that shape individual perceptions of knowledge sharing within an organisational setting. This aim stems from a systematic literature review that indicates that despite the large volume of literature in regards to knowledge sharing, the field has not yet arrived at a consensus as to the key categories of influences, defined at a high level, that shape individuals’ knowledge sharing perceptions. In order to uncover the key categories of influences, an exploratory and qualitative case study strategy was executed. Empirical data were gathered from a total of 24 interviewees that were based in four different country branches (i.e. China, the Netherlands, the UK and the US) of a single IT services organisation. Using constant comparison, findings point towards a holistic framework that depicts four key categories of influences that shape knowledge sharing from an individual perspective. The first key influence revolves around institutions which act as a united entity on individual perceptions of knowledge sharing. The second key influence fundamentally different in nature concentrates on relations between individuals sharing knowledge. The third key influence focuses on the individuals themselves (called sharers) and how their attitudes and characteristics can shape their knowledge sharing perceptions. The fourth and final key influence centres on knowledge itself and how this can shape individual perceptions of knowledge sharing. In addition, findings suggest that the four key influences not only shape knowledge sharing independently but that all four key influences are intertwined and together form a holistic framework. Combined, these two sets of findings indicate that knowledge sharing from an individual-level perspective is a more complex phenomenon than currently portrayed in the literature, which has focused on some of the key influences or depicted some of the interrelationships. Yet to better understand the knowledge sharing phenomenon from an individual perspective all four key influences, each being fundamentally different in nature, and their relationships should be taken into account. ii Table of contents Figures and tables .......................................................................................... vii Figures ............................................................................................................ vii Tables ............................................................................................................ vii 1 Introduction.............................................................................................. 1 1.1 Focus of research and aspired contributions ............................................ 1 1.2 Research aim, objectives, strategy and scope ........................................... 3 1.3 Thesis structure and chain of arguments .................................................. 4 2 Literature review ...................................................................................... 7 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................... 7 2.2 Review of the knowledge sharing literature ........................................... 10 2.3 Reviews and meta-analyses illuminating the knowledge sharing landscape ................................................................................................. 12 2.3.1 Factors that can influence knowledge sharing success and how to evaluate successful knowledge sharing activities ........................................................ 13 2.3.2 A systematic review of knowledge transfer and exchange studies in the health care policy context ............................................................................. 16 2.3.3 Antecedents and consequences on intra- and inter-organisational knowledge transfer .......................................................................................................... 19 2.3.4 Conceptualisations, processes, benefits and factors influencing knowledge transfer .......................................................................................................... 22 2.3.5 Existing individual-level knowledge sharing research and future research directions ....................................................................................................... 23 2.3.6 How knowledge producing institutions, intermediaries and decision making groups influence policymaking or organisational behaviour through collective-level knowledge exchange ............................................................ 27 2.3.7 Knowledge sharing concepts and research strategies of sustainable development approaches in a civil engineering-related context .................. 30 2.3.8 Antecedents that influence individuals’ knowledge sharing intentions and behaviour within organisations ..................................................................... 33 2.3.9 Synopsis .......................................................................................................... 37 2.4 Categories of influences shaping knowledge sharing as perceived by individual studies ..................................................................................... 44 2.5 The level of analysis and first research objective .................................... 51 iii 2.6 Contextual variations affecting categories of influences and the second research objective ................................................................................... 53 2.7 Summary .................................................................................................. 55 3 Methodology .......................................................................................... 57 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 57 3.2 Philosophical worldviews ........................................................................ 57 3.2.1 Epistemological worldview ............................................................................. 58 3.2.2 Ontological worldview .................................................................................... 59 3.2.3 Axiological worldview ..................................................................................... 61 3.2.4 Rhetorical worldview ...................................................................................... 61 3.2.5 Methodological worldview ............................................................................. 62 3.2.6 Summary ........................................................................................................ 62 3.3 Strategies of inquiry ................................................................................ 63 3.3.1 Case study strategy ........................................................................................ 65 3.3.2 Comparative strategy ..................................................................................... 66 3.3.3 Cross sectional strategy .................................................................................. 66 3.3.4 Experimental strategy .................................................................................... 67 3.3.5 Longitudinal strategy ...................................................................................... 68 3.3.6 Discussion ....................................................................................................... 68 3.4 Research methods ................................................................................... 70 3.4.1 Survey research method ................................................................................ 70 3.4.2 Ethnographic research method ...................................................................... 72 3.4.3 Qualitative interview research method ......................................................... 72 3.4.4 Discussion ....................................................................................................... 73 3.5 Research setting ...................................................................................... 74 3.6 Phase I - pilot study of the qualitative interviews ..................................
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