Knowledge Sharing Behaviour among Academic Staff at a Public Higher Education Institution in Malaysia

Authors: Noor Asilah Nordin, Normala Daud, Wan Ummi Kalsom Meor Osman

Abstract:

This study applied Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to explain the knowledge sharing behaviour among academic staff at a Public Higher Education Institution (HEI) in Malaysia. The main objectives of this study are; to identify the components that influence knowledge sharing behaviour and to determine the levels of knowledge sharing behaviour among academic staff. A total of 200 respondents were participated in answering questionnaires. The findings of this study revealed that level of perceiving and implementing knowledge sharing behaviour among academic staff at a Public HEI in Malaysia exist but not openly or strongly practiced. The findings were discussed and recommendations for the future research were also addressed.

Keywords: Attitude, Knowledge Sharing Behaviour, Perceived Behavioural Control, Subjective Norm.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1060072

References:

[1] Davenport, T. H., & Prusak, L. (1998). Working knowledge: How organizations manage what they know. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.
[2] Chatzoglou, P. D., & Vraimaki, E. (2009). Knowledge sharing behaviour of bank employees in Greece. Business Process Management Journal, 15(2), 245-266.
[3] Gao, S. (2004). Understanding knowledge sharing behaviour. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
[4] Riege, A. (2005). Three-dozen knowledge sharing barriers managers must consider. Journal of Knowledge Management, 9(3), 18-35.
[5] Lin, H. F. (2007). Knowledge sharing and firm innovation capability: An empirical study. International Journal of Manpower, 28, 315-332.
[6] Bowman, B. J. (2002). Building knowledge management systems. Information systems Management, Summer, 32-40.
[7] Barney, J. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17, 99-120.
[8] Ng, P. Y. (2008). Learning organization dimensions on knowledge sharing: A study of faculty members in the private universities in Malaysia. Retrieved from www.curtin.edu.my/sch_dept/.../SOB_SProfile.asp?rid=177.
[9] Conner, K. R., & Prahalad, C. K. (1996). A resource-based theory of the firm: Knowledge versus opportunism, Organization Science, 7(5), 477- 501.
[10] Grant, R. M. (1996). Toward a knowledge-based view of the firm. Strategic Management Journal. 17, 109-122.
[11] Nahapiet, J., & Ghoshal, S. (1998). Social capital, intellectual capital, and the organizational advantage. Academy of Management Review, 40(2), 242-266.
[12] Yozgat, U. (1998). Management Information Systems. Istanbul: Beta Publishing Distribution.
[13] Ipe, M. (2003). Knowledge sharing in organization: A conceptual framework. Human Resource Development Review, 2, 337.
[14] Chennamaneni, A. (2006). Determinants of knowledge sharing behaviour: Developing and testing an integrated theoretical model. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Texas, Arlington.
[15] Alavi, M., & Leidner, D. E. (2001) Review: Knowledge management and knowledge management systems: Conceptual foundations and research issues. MIS Quarterly, 25(1), 107-136.
[16] Setiarso, B. (2006). Knowledge sharing with a new dimension. Knowledge Management International Conference & Exhibition (KMICE ÔÇÿ06), Volume 1. Kedah.
[17] Hashim, F., & Othman, A. (2002). The impact of organizational culture towards knowledge transfer processes. Available at www.ickm.upm.edu.my
[18] Alam, S. S., Abdullah, Z., Amir Ishak, N., & Mohd Zain, Z. (2009). Assessing knowledge sharing behaviour among employees in SME-s: An empirical study. International Business Research, 2(2), 115-120.
[19] Ruggles, R. (1998). The state of the notion: Knowledge management in practice. California Management Review, 40(3), 80-89.
[20] Bock, G. W., Zmud, R. W., Kim, Y. G., & Lee, J. N. (2005). Behavioural intention formation in knowledge sharing: Examining the roles of extrinsic motivators, Social Psychological Forces, and Organizational Climate. MIS Quarterly, 29(1), 87-111.
[21] Mohayidin, M. G., Azirawani, N., Kamaruddin, M. N., & Margono, M. I. (2007). The application of knowledge management in enhancing the performance of Malaysian universities. The Electronic Journal of Knowledge Management, 5(3), 301-312.
[22] Centre for Academic Development (2005). Knowledge Management and Business Intelligence Strategies in Malaysian Universities, Universiti Putra Malaysia Research Report.
[23] Bock, G. W., & Kim, Y. G. (2002). Breaking the myths of rewards: An exploratory study of attitudes about knowledge sharing. Information Resources Management Journal, 15(2), 14-21.
[24] Ryu, S., Ho, H. S., & Han, I. (2003). Knowledge sharing behaviour of physicians in hospitals. Expert Systems with Applications, 25(1), 113- 122.
[25] Cheng, M. Y, Ho, S. Y., & Lau, P. M. (2009). Knowledge sharing in academic institutions: A study of Multimedia University Malaysia. Electronic Journal of Knowledge Management, 7(3), 313-324.
[26] Sohail, M. S. & Daud, S. (2009). Knowledge sharing in higher education institutions: Perspectives from Malaysia. The Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems, 39(2), 125-142.
[27] Lowendahl, B. R., Revang, O., & Fosstenlokken, S. M. (2001). Knowledge and value creation in professional service firms: A framework for analysis. Human Relations, 54(7), 911- 931.
[28] Roberts, K. R. (2008). Using the theory of planned behaviour to explore restaurant managers support for employee food safety. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas.
[29] George, J. (2004). The theory of planned behaviour and internet purchasing. Internet Research, 14(3), 198-212.
[30] Nonaka, I. (1994). Dynamic theory of organizational knowledge creation. Organization Science, 5(1), 14-37.
[31] Bartol, K. M., & Srivastava, A. (2002). Encouraging knowledge-sharing: The role of organizational reward systems. Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies, 9, 64-76.
[32] Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behaviour. Organizational Behaviour and Human Decision Processes, 50, 179-211.
[33] Liang T. P., Liu, C. C., & Wu, C. H. (2008). Can social exchange theory explain individual knowledge-sharing behavior? A Meta-Analysis. Paper presented at the Twenty Ninth (29th) International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS), Paris, France.
[34] Ajzen, I., & Fishbein, M. (1980). Understanding attitudes and predicting social behavior. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
[35] Ardichvili, A., Maurer, M., Li, W., Wentling, T., & Stuedemann, R. (2006). Cultural influences on knowledge sharing through online communities of practice. Journal of Knowledge Management ,10(1), 94- 107.
[36] Armitage, C. J., & Conner, M. (1999). The theory of planned behaviour: Assessment of predictive validity and perceived control. British Journal of Social Psychology, 38, 35-54.
[37] Randall, D. M., & Gibson, A. M. (1991). Ethical decision making in the medical profession: An application of the theory of planned behaviour. Journal of Business Ethics, 10(2), 111- 116.
[38] Ajzen, I., & Fishbein, M. (2005). The influence of attitudes on behavior. In Albarracin, D., Johnson, B.T., Zanna M.P. (Ed.), The handbook of attitudes, pp. 173-221. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
[39] Sparks P. & Shepherd, R. (1992). Self-identity and the theory of planned behaviour: Assessing the role of identification with "Green Consumerism". Social Psychology Quarterly, 55(4), 388-399.
[40] Lee, M. C. (2009). Understanding the behavioural intention to play online games: An extension of the theory of planned behaviour. Online Information Review, 33(5), 849-872.
[41] Jain, K. K., Sandhu, M. S., & Sidhu, G. K. (2007). Knowledge sharing among academic Staff: A case study of business schools in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Research Papers. JASA 2, University Tun Abdul Razak.