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

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.