Knowledge-Sharing Management in the Context of Higher Education Institutions

249 Pages·2017·3.45 MB·English

Knowledge-Sharing Management in the Context of
Higher Education Institutions

A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

By

Osama F Al Kurdi

Brunel Business School

Brunel University

Oct 2017
II

ABSTRACT

Competitive advantage does not depend solely on the creation and storage of
existing and new knowledge. Rather, it requires sustained exploitation and
production. The challenge becomes driven towards maintaining some
mechanisms to help in producing new, and sharing existing knowledge.
Harnessing the power of managing and sharing knowledge enabled companies
like Apple and IBM to gain competitive advantage over their competitors. While
such challenges have been closely examined in the extant literature, the context
of knowledge management and sharing in higher education institutions (HEI)
has only been lightly considered. However, considering the highly unique
features of HEIs context in terms of autonomy, climate, distinct leadership and
role of academics as knowledge workers, it can be argued that examining
knowledge-sharing in the context of higher education is greatly needed. The
literature has shown fragmented nature of examining academics’ KS
determinants in contemporary research. Thus, the need to comprehensively
examine those influencers is essential. This thesis seeks to address the
research gaps and contribute to the literature by asking What antecedents
influence the process of knowledge-sharing (KS) between academics in HEIs,
and how can the process of KS in HEIs be improved? Through the use of a
quantitative research methodology, the research has developed eleven
hypotheses to investigate the above-mentioned question. The findings in this
study revealed to a very great extent that academics themselves can contribute
towards influencing knowledge production and management, and determine the
levels to which the universities will be able to share knowledge internally. The
research reveals that organizational factors (affiliation, innovativeness, fairness
represented by organizational climate and HEI leadership) were stronger
predictors of academics’ knowledge-sharing than individual (perceived loss of
knowledge power, knowledge self-efficacy, perceived reciprocal benefits and
trust) or technological ones.
III

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................... II
TABLE OF CONTENTS ....................................................................................................... III
FIGURES ............................................................................................................................. VII
TABLES .............................................................................................................................. VIII
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..................................................................................................... X
DECLERATION .................................................................................................................... XI
1.0 CHAPTER ONE – INTRODUCTION ............................................................................... 1
1.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 1
1.2 BACKGROUND: FROM MANAGING TOWARDS SHARING KNOWLEDGE .............................. 2
1.2.1 Managing Knowledge-Sharing in Organisations................................................ 3
1.2.2 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) ..................................................................... 5
1.2.3 Knowledge Management and Sharing in HEIs .................................................... 7
1.3 RESEARCH GAP ...................................................................................................................... 8
1.4 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES......................................................................................................... 10
1.4.1 Objective 1 – Review of the Literature ................................................................ 11
1.4.2 Objective 2 – Identify Antecedents of KS Behaviour ...................................... 11
1.4.3 Objective 3 – Proposed Model to Assess KS Behaviours ............................. 12
1.4.4 Objective 4 – Examination of the Proposed Model .......................................... 12
1.4.5 Objective 5 – Implications and Recommendations ......................................... 12
1.5 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................. 12
1.6 OUTLINE................................................................................................................................. 13
1.6.1 Contextual Theory .................................................................................................... 13
1.6.2 Principal Theory ........................................................................................................ 14
1.6.3 Data Theory ................................................................................................................ 14
1.6.4 Original Theoretical Contribution ......................................................................... 15
1.7 CHAPTER SUMMARY ............................................................................................................. 15
2.0 CHAPTER TWO –LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................. 16
2.1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 16
2.2 FUNDAMENTALS OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT .............................................................. 17
2.2.1 Definitions of Knowledge........................................................................................ 17
2.2.2 Categorisation of Knowledge ................................................................................ 18
2.2.3 Knowledge Management ......................................................................................... 21
2.2.4 Knowledge-sharing .................................................................................................. 22
2.2.5 Scoping KS at the Organizational Level ............................................................. 24
IV

2.2.6 Scoping KS at the Individual Level ...................................................................... 26
2.2.7 Scoping KS at the Technological Level .............................................................. 29
2.3 CONTEXT OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS ............................................................... 30
2.3.1 Perspectives on Knowledge in HEIs .................................................................... 32
2.3.2 Knowledge-sharing in HEIs .................................................................................... 33
2.3.3 Knowledge-sharing Challenges in Academia ................................................... 35
2.3.4 Organizational Level Challenges .......................................................................... 35
2.3.5 Technology Level Challenges ............................................................................... 38
2.3.6 Individual Level Challenges ................................................................................... 39
2.4 RESEARCH INTO KNOWLEDGE-SHARING AMONG ACADEMICS ......................................... 42
2.5 LITERATURE CRITIQUE ......................................................................................................... 45
2.6 CHAPTER SUMMARY ............................................................................................................. 47
3.0 CHAPTER THREE – RESEARCH FRAMEWORK AND HYPOTHESIS .................... 48
3.1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 48
3.2 THEORETICAL BACKGROUND .............................................................................................. 49
3.3 THE THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOUR .............................................................................. 49
3.4 SELF-DETERMINATION THEORY (SDT) ............................................................................... 52
3.5 SOCIAL EXCHANGE THEORY (SET) .................................................................................... 53
3.6 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ................................................................................................. 54
3.7 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES DEVELOPMENT OF ANTECEDENTS ........................................... 55
3.7.1 Knowledge-Sharing Behaviour: H1 and H2 ....................................................... 56
3.7.2 Knowledge-Sharing Intention: H3 and H4 .......................................................... 58
3.7.3 Interpersonal Trust as Intention towards Knowledge-sharing H5 ............... 60
3.7.4 Attitudes towards Knowledge-Sharing: H6, H7, and H8 ................................. 61
3.7.5 Subjective Norms: H9 and H10.............................................................................. 66
3.7.6 Knowledge-Sharing Perceived Behaviour Control (PBC): H11 .................... 72
3.8 THE RESEARCH CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ..................................................................... 74
3.9 CHAPTER SUMMARY ............................................................................................................. 74
4.0 CHAPTER FOUR – METHODOLOGY ......................................................................... 76
4.1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 76
4.2 PHILOSOPHY ......................................................................................................................... 77
4.2.1 Interpretivism ............................................................................................................. 78
4.2.2 Positivism.................................................................................................................... 78
4.2.3 Realism ........................................................................................................................ 79
4.2.4 Pragmatism ................................................................................................................. 79
4.2.5 Selection of Positivist Philosophy with Pragmatic Overtones ..................... 80
4.3 RESEARCH APPROACH ........................................................................................................ 81
4.3.1 Induction...................................................................................................................... 81
4.3.2 Deduction .................................................................................................................... 82
4.3.3 Abduction .................................................................................................................... 82
4.3.4 Selection of the Abductive Approach.................................................................. 82
4.4 METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH ........................................................................................... 82
4.4.1 Qualitative ................................................................................................................... 83
4.4.2 Quantitative ................................................................................................................ 84
V

4.4.3 Selection of Quantitative Approach ..................................................................... 84
4.5 STRATEGIES .......................................................................................................................... 86
4.6 TIME HORIZONS .................................................................................................................... 86
4.7 DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS ..................................................................................... 86
4.7.1 Selection of Surveys ................................................................................................ 87
4.7.2 Sampling Strategy .................................................................................................... 90
4.7.3 Sampling Size ............................................................................................................ 92
4.7.4 Instrument Measurements ...................................................................................... 93
4.7.5 Reliability of Instruments ........................................................................................ 94
4.7.6 Pilot Testing .............................................................................................................. 95
4.8 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS .................................................................................................. 96
4.9 CHAPTER SUMMARY ............................................................................................................. 96
5.0 CHAPTER FIVE – FINDINGS ....................................................................................... 98
5.1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 98
5.1.1 Demographic Data ................................................................................................... 98
5.1.2 Data Collection .......................................................................................................... 98
5.1.3 Descriptive Statistics ............................................................................................. 103
5.1.4 Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) ................................................................ 115
5.1.5 Assessment of the Measurement Model .......................................................... 116
5.1.6 Convergent Validity ................................................................................................ 116
5.1.7 Discriminant Validity .............................................................................................. 120
5.1.8 Assessment of the Structural Model ................................................................ 122
5.1.9 Confirmation of the Hypotheses Testing.......................................................... 124
5.2 CHAPTER SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... 127
6.0 CHAPTER SIX – DISCUSSION IN CONTEXT OF LITERATURE ............................ 128
6.1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 128
6.2 TYPES OF KNOWLEDGE SHARED BY ACADEMICS ............................................................ 128
6.3 HYPOTHESES TESTING ....................................................................................................... 129
6.3.1 Antecedents of Actual Knowledge-sharing ..................................................... 130
6.3.2 Antecedents of Knowledge-sharing Intention ................................................ 132
6.3.3 Antecedents of Knowledge-sharing Attitude .................................................. 135
6.3.4 Antecedents of the Subjective Norm ................................................................. 139
6.3.5 Antecedents of Perceived Behavioural Control (PBC) ................................. 141
6.4 SYNTHESIS AND REFLECTIONS ON THE FINDINGS ............................................................ 143
6.4.1 DEMOGRAPHICS .............................................................................................................. 143
6.4.2 INDIVIDUAL DETERMINANTS ............................................................................................ 144
6.4.3 ORGANISATIONAL DETERMINANTS ................................................................................ 147
6.4.4 TECHNOLOGICAL DETERMINANTS .................................................................................. 149
6.5 CHAPTER SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... 150
7.0 CHAPTER SEVEN – SUMMARY, LIMITATIONS, AND FUTURE RESEARCH ...... 152
7.1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 152
7.2 MEETING RESEARCH AIMS AND OBJECTIVES .................................................................. 152
7.2.1 Objective 1 – Review of the Literature .............................................................. 152
7.2.2 Objective 2 – Identify Antecedents of KS Behaviour .................................... 153
VI

7.2.3 Objective 3 –Assess KS Behaviours Using the Proposed Model .............. 154
7.2.4 Objective 4 – Examination of the Proposed Model ........................................ 154
7.2.5 Objective 5 – Provide Implications and Recommendations ....................... 154
7.3 RESEARCH FINDINGS.......................................................................................................... 155
7.3.1 Antecedents of Intention, Attitude, Subjective Norm, & Perceived
Behavioural Control ......................................................................................................... 155
7.3.2 Influence of Individual, Organizational, & Technological Antecedents ... 156
7.3.3 Knowledge-sharing and Communications Channels.................................... 157
7.4 THEORETICAL CONTRIBUTIONS ......................................................................................... 158
7.5 PRACTICAL CONTRIBUTIONS ............................................................................................. 158
7.6 RESEARCH LIMITATIONS .................................................................................................... 160
7.7 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH ................................................................ 162
REFERENCES................................................................................................................... 163
APPENDIX A – ETHICAL APPROVAL ............................................................................ 190
APPENDIX B – FINAL SURVEY ...................................................................................... 191
APPENDIX D – FINAL SMART PLS STRUCTUAL MODEL RESULTS ........................ 210
............................................................................................................................................ 210
APPENDIX E – STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE SAMPLE ....................................... 211
............................................................................................................................................ 212
VII

FIGURES
Figure 1. SECI model. Modified from and Von Krogh, Nonaka & Rechsteiner,
(2012) ....................................................................................................................... 20
Figure 2. Organizational Culture Classifications (Handy, 1991) ............................ 25
Figure 3. Theory of Planned Behaviour (Adapted from Ajzen, 1991). ...................... 50
Figure 4. Hypotheses 1. ................................................................................................... 56
Figure 5. Hypotheses 2. ................................................................................................... 57
Figure 6. Hypotheses 3. ................................................................................................... 59
Figure 7. Hypotheses 4. ................................................................................................... 59
Figure 8. Hypotheses 5 .................................................................................................... 61
Figure 9. Key Determinants Predicting Academic Knowledge-Sharing ................... 61
Figure 10. Hypotheses 6 .................................................................................................. 63
Figure 11. Hypotheses 7 .................................................................................................. 65
Figure 12. Hypotheses 8 .................................................................................................. 66
Figure 13. Summary of Antecedents of Attitudes towards KS ................................... 66
Figure 14. Hypotheses 9. ................................................................................................. 69
Figure 15. Hypotheses 10. ............................................................................................... 71
Figure 16. Hypotheses 11. ............................................................................................... 74
Figure 17. Research Framework .................................................................................... 75
Figure 18. Research Onion. (Adapted from Saunders et al., 2016, p. 124). ........... 76
Figure 19. Three Research Approaches. ...................................................................... 81
Figure 20. Results of PLS Analysis .............................................................................. 123
Figure 21. Graphical Distribution of Age Categories ................................................. 143
VIII

TABLES

Table 1 Summary of KM Definitions from the Literature ............................................. 22
Table 2. Examples of Types of Knowledge Shared in Higher Education ................. 32
Table 3. Leadership Competencies for Academic Institutions ................................... 38
Table 4. Research Limitations ......................................................................................... 46
Table 5. Strategies of Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches ............................... 85
Table 6. Reliability of Instruments .................................................................................. 94
Table 7. Age of Respondents ........................................................................................ 100
Table 8. Gender of Respondents .................................................................................. 100
Table 9. Education Level of Respondents .................................................................. 100
Table 10. Respondents’ Tenure in Department ......................................................... 101
Table 11. Respondents’ Time in Higher Education ................................................... 101
Table 12. Academic Posts of Respondents ................................................................ 102
Table 13. Type of Organizations ................................................................................... 102
Table 14. Intent to Share Knowledge ........................................................................... 103
Table 15. Attitudes towards Sharing Knowledge ....................................................... 104
Table 16. Subjective Norms towards Sharing Knowledge........................................ 104
Table 17. Perceived Behaviour Control ....................................................................... 105
Table 18. Perceived Reciprocal Benefits Towards Knowledge-sharing ................. 106
Table 19. Perceived Loss of Knowledge Power ......................................................... 106
Table 20. Perceived Self-efficacy towards Knowledge-Sharing .............................. 107
Table 21. Perceived Interpersonal Trust ..................................................................... 107
Table 22. Organizational Climate Affiliation ................................................................ 108
Table 23. Organizational Climate: Innovativeness .................................................... 109
Table 24. Organizational Climate: Fairness ................................................................ 110
Table 25. Leadership ...................................................................................................... 110
Table 26. KM Tools and Technology ........................................................................... 111
Table 27. Using Technology .......................................................................................... 112
Table 28. Actual Knowledge-sharing ........................................................................... 114
Table 29. Types of Knowledge Shared........................................................................ 115
Table 30. Factor Loadings and Weights ...................................................................... 118
Table 31. Composite Reliabilities and AVE ................................................................ 119
Table 32. AVE Analysis .................................................................................................. 120
IX

Table 33. Measurement Indicator to Construct Correlation...................................... 121
Table 34 Summary of R Square, Beta Coefficient, t and P Values ......................... 123
Table 35 Hypotheses Testing Results ......................................................................... 125
Table 36. Research Objectives ..................................................................................... 152
X

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like thank God for enabling me take on this journey of knowledge. I would
like to extend my sincere thanks to Dr. Ramzi El Haddadeh for his support and
advice during the course of this thesis. Also, I would like to thank Dr. Tillal El Dabi
for his help.
I would also like to thank my wife Manal, my daughter Sally, my son Sammy and
my family for their patience, help and support throughout the long and difficult
process.