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Knowledge sharing from a different approach: The influence of quantity and quality of knowledge sharing on satisfaction, trust and commitment within a non-profit organization.

Neurink, D.A.H. (2013) Knowledge sharing from a different approach: The influence of quantity and quality of knowledge sharing on satisfaction, trust and commitment within a non-profit organization.

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Abstract:	A knowledge sharing environment enables organizations to improve innovation or even organizational performance. Knowledge sharing has already been studied by various academics to find out its antecedents. This study takes a different perspective and focuses on the outcomes of knowledge sharing behaviour within organizational groups. Organizations are quite dependent on the performance of these knowledge groups. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of knowledge sharing within groups on individuals’ attitude and perspectives towards co-workers, their job and their commitment to the organization. Questionnaires were used to measure the influence of frequency, quantity and quality of knowledge sharing within groups on the dependent variables; satisfaction with co-workers, satisfaction with the job, organizational commitment and ability- based trust, benevolence- based trust, integrity- based trust in co-workers. In total, 177 participants, employees of a nonprofit organization, filled in the survey. An exploratory factor analysis determined that the items did not properly measure the ten constructs. As a consequence, the independent variables frequency and quantity of knowledge sharing were combined into one construct. Also, the dependent variable trust in co-workers was divided into competence-based trust and goodwill trust, instead of the three trustworthiness factors. Additionally, the various relationships between the dependent variables were measured. Linear regression showed that both quantity and quality of knowledge sharing have significant influence on the dependent variables, such as satisfaction with job and co-workers and trust in co-workers. These significant effects can be explained as a result of approaching knowledge sharing as a communication process, whereby communication is a requirement to share knowledge. The perceived openness and deployment of work-related information from co-workers can yield much for the employees as an individual and for the organization as a whole. Also, this study showed a significant influence of quality of knowledge sharing on organizational commitment. However, the influence of quantity of sharing on organizational commitment could not be found in this study. This study’s approach of knowledge sharing behaviour in terms of quantity and quality could be an useful approach in future studies. Implications of the findings and future knowledge sharing research directions are discussed.
Item Type:	Essay (Master)
Faculty:	BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:	05 communication studies
Programme:	Communication Studies MSc (60713)
Link to this item:	https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/64222
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