Knowledge sharing motivational factors among academic staff in Jordanian Private Universities

Abstract

Numerous scholars and researchers have claimed that motivation can assist successful knowledge sharing among academic staff. Nonetheless, limited empirical research has been conducted to determine the individual and organizational factors that motivate the academics to share knowledge. Therefore, this study determined the individual and organizational factors that motivate the academics to share knowledge. Moreover, this study examined the relationship between knowledge sharing intention and knowledge sharing behaviour among the academics as well as the mediation effect of knowledge sharing intention on the relationship between individual and organizational factors and knowledge sharing behaviour. In this study, the individual factors were based on Lin model, whereas the organizational factors were based on Herzberg motivation theory. Convenience sampling was used to select 303 academic staff of Jordanian private universities to participate in the study. A cross-sectional survey was carried out using self-administered questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis and Cronbach’s alpha tests using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software were conducted to ensure that the items were significantly valid and reliable. Average variance extracted and composite reliability were also examined to ensure all the constructs have good validity. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. The main finding showed that individual and organizational factors are vital in motivating the academics for knowledge sharing. It was also found that there is a positive relationship between knowledge sharing intention and knowledge sharing behaviour among the staff. Furthermore, knowledge sharing intention was found to fully mediate the relationship between reciprocal benefits, knowledge self-efficacy, enjoyment in helping others, recognition, advancement, responsibility, achievement, university policy and administration, working conditions, interpersonal relations, quality of supervision and knowledge sharing behaviour. This study contributes to broadening the body of knowledge by determining that advancement, responsibility, achievement and interpersonal relation should be used to motivate academic staff for knowledge sharing. Universities must be more concerned on these factors as increasing academic staff’s willingness to share knowledge and awareness will lead to better university performance. In addition, universities should provide and implement practical plans and policies to recognize academics’ achievements and select a qualified leader to lead them for successful knowledge sharing.