Readiness and intention towards knowledge sharing and successful collaboration between university and industry

Abstract

Knowledge sharing and collaboration between university and industry has become a crucial factor towards innovation and development of the economy. Despite an ongoing collaboration between university and industry, researchers argue that there are elements that impede this collaboration. Researchers have called to investigate this issue at micro level. Nevertheless, there is a lack of theoretical framework that has investigated this subject at the individual level and particularly from the readiness and behaviour perspective. Therefore, the aim of this research is to investigate the impact of readiness and intention on knowledge sharing and successful collaboration between university and industry from the university academicians’ perspectives. This research was underpinned by integrating the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), change readiness, and successful collaboration. A total of 230 academicians, who were engaged in collaboration with industry in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, participated in the survey questionnaires. The data were analysed by using Partial Least Squares (PLS) based on Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results indicated that the TPB is a useful theory to explain academicians’ knowledge sharing with industry. In addition, from the readiness perspective, the results revealed that the efficacy and management support positively influenced academicians’ knowledge sharing with industry. Lastly, the results showed that academicians’ knowledge sharing influenced successful collaboration. These findings enhance the understanding of knowledge sharing and collaboration between university and industry from the readiness and behaviour perspective at the micro level. This study also provides practical implication for decision makers from university, industry, government, who are massively investing money, time and other resources, for an effective knowledge sharing and collaboration between university and industry.