A Conceptual Framework of the Individual Antecedents to Knowledge Sharing- With Empirical Evidence and Managerial Implications

Purpose: The increasing importance of knowledge sharing, almost all successful firms deem knowledge sharing and knowledge management as one of the central and strategically most important organizational concerns and allocate huge budgets to the effective management and transfer of knowledge. However, despite some very thoughtful measures taken by organizations, most of the firms fail to reap the fruits of knowledge sharing due to being ignorant regarding the individual, organizational and contextual factors that facilitate or impede the process of organizational knowledge sharing.Design/Methodology/Approach: This research is based on the PhD research dissertation of the author and it was conducted through qualitative content analysis of research articles on the subject matter.Findings: In this paper, in the light of the existing literature and available empirical evidence, a conceptual framework of individual antecedents (determinants) of knowledge sharing is presented. Based on the findings of this research, interpersonal trust, intension to share, self-efficacy, feeling of self-worth, organizational commitment, reciprocity, a passion to help others are the most important individual antecedents to knowledge sharing.&Implications/Originality/Value: This research offers some key thoughts and implication for the managers and practitioners, to know the individual factors that facilitate the process of KS within organizations. The author has also suggested some valuable recommendations at the end, for the effective management of knowledge sharing in organizations. The paper also provides a meaningful and productive ground for conducting qualitative or quantitative research but can also help researchers in the designing of instruments for conducting research on the topic of individual antecedents to knowledge sharing (KS).