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Knowledge sharing in knowledge-intensive manufacturing firms. An empirical study of its enablers

Vincenzo Cavaliere (Department of Economics and Management, University of Florence, Florence, Italy)
Sara Lombardi (Department of Business and Management, LUISS Guido Carli, Rome, Italy)
Luca Giustiniano (Department of Business and Management, LUISS Guido Carli, Rome, Italy AND Nova School of Business and Economics, Lisbon, Portugal AND Interdisciplinary Center for Organizational Architecture, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark)

Journal of Knowledge Management

ISSN: 1367-3270

Article publication date: 12 October 2015

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate, following previous studies on knowledge-sharing (KS) processes that consist of knowledge donating (KD) and knowledge collecting (KC), the relationship between KS processes and KS enablers to understand the effect of organizational, individual and technological factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on a Web survey. Data were collected from a sample of 759 knowledge workers selected from 23 knowledge-intensive manufacturing companies exposed to international markets and located in Tuscany (Italy). The analysis is based on multivariate regression models considering KD and KC as dependent variables.

Findings

The results show that individual, organizational and technological factors matter to KS. Specifically, the paper reports that individual-level enablers and supportive leadership have a positive effect on both sub-processes of knowledge sharing. Further, the organic management system has a strong and positive impact on KD, while the efficacy of information and communication technology solutions is positively related to KC.

Research limitations/implications

Although based on a geographically bounded perimeter, the analysis allows some generalizations. In fact, the paper proposes a set of enablers that empirically link micro- and macro-organizational mechanisms to KS.

Practical implications

The evidence described can help improve the organizational management of KS and, consequently, support managers dealing with organizational design aimed at successful KS.

Originality/value

The paper presents original results by combining individual, organizational and technological variables in the explanation of KS. It could be a basis for further studies.

Keywords

Citation

Cavaliere, V., Lombardi, S. and Giustiniano, L. (2015), "Knowledge sharing in knowledge-intensive manufacturing firms. An empirical study of its enablers", Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 19 No. 6, pp. 1124-1145. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-12-2014-0538

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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