IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/palcom/v11y2024i1d10.1057_s41599-024-03384-9.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Breaking down barriers: exploring the impact of social capital on knowledge sharing and transfer in the workplace

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Yao-Ping Peng

    (Foshan University
    Foshan University)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed formidable challenges to economic mobility and corporate expansion. Among these challenges is its pronounced effect on knowledge innovation, a cornerstone upon which many organizations depend. To re-establish the flow of internal knowledge, organizations are compelled to refine their knowledge management strategies and amplify employees’ motivation and eagerness to share and transfer information. This study delves into the influence of knowledge management processes on employees’ knowledge-sharing and transfer behaviors, viewed through the lens of the social exchange theory. It also probes the role of social capital in fostering and augmenting employees’ involvement in refining these processes. Data was gleaned from 30 information service firms in mainland China, resulting in 483 valid responses. Our findings highlight that both relational and structural forms of social capital positively influence the knowledge management processes, subsequently enhancing employees’ knowledge-sharing and transfer behaviors.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Yao-Ping Peng, 2024. "Breaking down barriers: exploring the impact of social capital on knowledge sharing and transfer in the workplace," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-12, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:11:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-024-03384-9
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-024-03384-9
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41599-024-03384-9
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41599-024-03384-9?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. José Carlos Pinho & Christiane Prange, 2016. "The effect of social networks and dynamic internationalization capabilities on international performance," Post-Print hal-02313305, HAL.
    2. Reimara Valk & Gabriella Planojevic, 2021. "Addressing the knowledge divide: digital knowledge sharing and social learning of geographically dispersed employees during the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Global Mobility, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 9(4), pages 591-621, October.
    3. Al-Emran, Mostafa & Mezhuyev, Vitaliy & Kamaludin, Adzhar & Shaalan, Khaled, 2018. "The impact of knowledge management processes on information systems: A systematic review," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 173-187.
    4. Haradhan Kumar MOHAJAN, 2019. "Knowledge Sharing among Employees in Organizations," Journal of Economic Development, Environment and People, Alliance of Central-Eastern European Universities, vol. 8(1), pages 52-61, March.
    5. Pinho, José Carlos & Prange, Christiane, 2016. "The effect of social networks and dynamic internationalization capabilities on international performance," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(3), pages 391-403.
    6. Sheng, Margaret L. & Hartmann, Nathaniel N., 2019. "Impact of subsidiaries' cross-border knowledge tacitness shared and social capital on MNCs' explorative and exploitative innovation capability," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 25(4).
    7. Caroline Mothe & Uyen T. Nguyen-Thi & Ángela Triguero, 2018. "Innovative products and services with environmental benefits: design of search strategies for external knowledge and absorptive capacity," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 61(11), pages 1934-1954, September.
    8. Hau, Yong Sauk & Kim, Byoungsoo & Lee, Heeseok & Kim, Young-Gul, 2013. "The effects of individual motivations and social capital on employees’ tacit and explicit knowledge sharing intentions," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 356-366.
    9. Michael Yao-Ping Peng & Cheng Xu & Rong Zheng & Yuan He, 2023. "The impact of perceived organizational support on employees’ knowledge transfer and innovative behavior: comparisons between Taiwan and mainland China," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-13, December.
    10. Jing Yi Yong & Mohd‐Yusoff Yusliza & Thurasamy Ramayah & Charbel Jose Chiappetta Jabbour & Simone Sehnem & Venkatesh Mani, 2020. "Pathways towards sustainability in manufacturing organizations: Empirical evidence on the role of green human resource management," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(1), pages 212-228, January.
    11. Olaisen, Johan & Revang, Oivind, 2017. "Working smarter and greener: Collaborative knowledge sharing in virtual global project teams," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 1441-1448.
    12. Nicolai J. Foss & Kenneth Husted & Snejina Michailova, 2010. "Governing Knowledge Sharing in Organizations: Levels of Analysis, Governance Mechanisms, and Research Directions," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(3), pages 455-482, May.
    13. Tayyaba Akram & Shen Lei & Muhammad Jamal Haider & Muhammad Waqar Akram, 2017. "What Impact Do Structural, Relational And Cognitive Organisational Social Capital Have On Employee Innovative Work Behaviour? A Study From China," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 21(02), pages 1-29, February.
    14. Wang, Lei & Huo, Dong & Motohashi, Kazuyuki, 2019. "Coordination Mechanisms and Overseas Knowledge Acquisition for Chinese Suppliers: The Contingent Impact of Production Mode and Contractual Governance," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 25(2), pages 1-1.
    15. Halil Zaim & Shahnawaz Muhammed & Merve Tarim, 2019. "Relationship between knowledge management processes and performance: critical role of knowledge utilization in organizations," Knowledge Management Research & Practice, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(1), pages 24-38, January.
    16. Liu, Yipeng & Meyer, Klaus E., 2020. "Boundary spanners, HRM practices, and reverse knowledge transfer: The case of Chinese cross-border acquisitions," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(2).
    17. Nicolai J. Foss & Torben Pedersen, 2019. "Microfoundations in international management research: The case of knowledge sharing in multinational corporations," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(9), pages 1594-1621, December.
    18. Jaffar Abbas & Qingyu Zhang & Iftikhar Hussain & Sabahat Akram & Aneeqa Afaq & Muhammad Afzal Shad, 2020. "Sustainable Innovation in Small Medium Enterprises: The Impact of Knowledge Management on Organizational Innovation through a Mediation Analysis by Using SEM Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-19, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Christofi, Michael & Pereira, Vijay & Vrontis, Demetris & Tarba, Shlomo & Thrassou, Alkis, 2021. "Agility and flexibility in international business research: A comprehensive review and future research directions," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 56(3).
    2. Mikael Hilmersson & Roger Schweizer & Sylvie Chetty, 2022. "The Relationship Between Timing, Speed, and Performance in Foreign Market Network Entry," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 62(3), pages 325-349, June.
    3. Dowling, Michael & O’Gorman, Colm & Puncheva, Petya & Vanwalleghem, Dieter, 2019. "Trust and SME attitudes towards equity financing across Europe," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 54(6), pages 1-1.
    4. Brache, Jose & Felzensztein, Christian, 2019. "Exporting firm’s engagement with trade associations: Insights from Chile," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 25-35.
    5. Gonçalo Rodrigues Brás & Miguel Torres Preto, 2021. "The consequences of intrapreneurship in exporting firms: a structural-model approach," CeBER Working Papers 2021-06, Centre for Business and Economics Research (CeBER), University of Coimbra.
    6. Aaron Tham & David Fleischman & Peter Jenner, 2018. "Spilling the social capital beans: a comparative case study of coffee service enterprises within Asia-Pacific," Asia Pacific Business Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(2), pages 150-173, March.
    7. Fortwengel, Johann & Gutierrez Huerter O, Gabriela & Kostova, Tatiana, 2023. "Three decades of research on practice transfer in multinational firms: Past contributions and future opportunities," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 58(3).
    8. Priyono Anjar & Nursyamsiah Siti & Darmawan Baziedy A., 2019. "Managing ambidexterity in internationalisation of SMEs from an emerging country: A dynamic capability perspective," HOLISTICA – Journal of Business and Public Administration, Sciendo, vol. 10(3), pages 7-26, December.
    9. Darshana Mudalige & Noor Azizi Ismail & Marlin Abdul Malek, 2016. "Exploratory Study on Relationship between Entrepreneur Characteristics and Dynamic Capabilities in Export SMES," Paradigm, , vol. 20(2), pages 113-130, December.
    10. Tânia Gonçalves & Mário Sérgio Teixeira & José G. Dias & Sofia Gouveia & Ricardo Jorge Correia, 2021. "Commitment to exporting as an antecedent of organizational skills and firm performance," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 91(7), pages 1063-1084, September.
    11. Martín Martín, Oscar & Chetty, Sylvie & Bai, Wensong, 2022. "Foreign market entry knowledge and international performance: The mediating role of international market selection and network capability," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(2).
    12. Nadia Zahoor & Yong Kyu Lew, 2022. "Sustaining superior international performance: Strategic orientations and dynamic capability of environmentally concerned small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(3), pages 1002-1017, March.
    13. Amos Akinbola Olufemi & Tobi Babatolu Ayorinde & Arike Sanni Sekinat & Sariat Akinbola Omolola, 2020. "Influence of Strategic Factors on Early Internationalization of Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria," Studia Commercialia Bratislavensia, Sciendo, vol. 13(44), pages 76-86, June.
    14. Xie, Xuemei & Wu, Yonghui & Palacios-Marqués, Daniel & Ribeiro-Navarrete, Samuel, 2022. "Business networks and organizational resilience capacity in the digital age during COVID-19: A perspective utilizing organizational information processing theory," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    15. Liu, Yipeng & Collinson, Simon & Cooper, Sir Cary & Baglieri, Daniela, 2022. "International business, innovation and ambidexterity: A micro-foundational perspective," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(3).
    16. Shashank Mittal, 2019. "Role of Continuity, Specificity and Frequency of Firm–Supplier Exchanges in Customer Fulfilment: Evidence from Latin America," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 20(1), pages 25-37, December.
    17. Ritu Singh & Parikshit Charan & Manojit Chattopadhyay, 2019. "Dynamic capabilities and responsiveness: moderating effect of organization structures and environmental dynamism," DECISION: Official Journal of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Springer;Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, vol. 46(4), pages 301-319, December.
    18. Rúben Rocha & Anderson Rei Galvão & Carla Susana Marques & Carla Mascarenhas & Vítor Braga, 2020. "Cooperation Networks and Embeddedness—The Case of the Portuguese Footwear Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-22, November.
    19. Nguyen Anh Khoa Dam & Thang Le Dinh & William Menvielle, 2019. "A systematic literature review of big data adoption in internationalization," Journal of Marketing Analytics, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 7(3), pages 182-195, September.
    20. Michael Yao-Ping Peng & Yong-Sheng Chang, 2023. "Do Social Network Relationships and Overseas Market Orientation Affect SMEs’ International Performance? A Dynamic Internationalization Capability Perspective," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(1), pages 21582440231, March.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:11:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-024-03384-9. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.nature.com/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.