Impact of knowledge management enablers on knowledge sharing: Is trust a missing link in SMEs of emerging economies?

The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of trust in the relationship between knowledge management enablers (i.e. top management support, organizational culture, knowledge management system quality, and openness in communication) on knowledge sharing in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan.

The study was conducted through self-administered survey of employees of SMEs in Pakistan. Correlation, Baron and Kenny approach (causal steps approach) and PROCESS Macro (normal test theory) developed by Hayes were used to find out the direct and indirect effects of trust among knowledge management enablers and knowledge sharing.

The results have shown that trust of employees at SMEs was developed through knowledge management enablers which promote knowledge sharing. Therefore, the relationship between knowledge management enablers, trust, and knowledge sharing is positive.

The current study only considered the single aspect of knowledge management system, i.e. knowledge sharing; some other aspects of knowledge management system such as knowledge creation and knowledge utilization can be used for future studies at SMEs sector.

The mediation of trust between top management support, culture, openness in communication, and knowledge sharing provided that trustworthy relationships between the members of an organization would lead to enhance the knowledge sharing activities. In order to promote the knowledge sharing attitudes within the organization, the managers should consider knowledge management enablers (top management support, organizational culture, and openness in communication) along with trustworthy environment as an energetic force for the development of knowledge management systems.

The study confirmed the mediating effect of trust between the relationships of top management support, organizational culture, openness in communication, and knowledge sharing, while there is a partial mediating role of trust between knowledge management system quality and knowledge sharing.