Knowledge Sharing

Knowledge sharing (KS) is critical to organizations that wish to use their knowledge as an asset to achieve competitive advantage. Knowledge management systems (KMSs) can be primary enablers of knowledge sharing in an organization. A major focus of knowledge sharing is on the individual who can explicate, encode, and communicate knowledge to other individuals, groups, and organizations. In particular, the employment of some KMSs requires individuals to contribute their knowledge to a system rather than keeping it to themselves or sharing it only through personal exchanges. Another major focus of knowledge sharing is on knowledge sharing in teams since teams have become so prominent in management thought and practice, and because some of the long-presumed benefits of teams such as “higher labor productivity, a flatter management structure and reduced employee turnover” have been validated (Glassop, 2002, p. 227). A major distinction between knowledge sharing and knowledge transfer (terms that may sometimes be used interchangeably) is that transfer implies focus, a clear objective, and unidirectionality, while knowledge may be shared in unintended ways multiple directionally without a specific objective (see article titled “Knowledge Transfer”). Of course, knowledge may also be shared in intended ways, such as when a team attempts to develop mutual knowledge, a common ground, or knowledge that the parties know they share in common (Cramton, 2001).