Employee attitudes to information sharing: a case study at the European Central Bank
| Published date | 03 October 2008 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/09565690810916447 |
| Pages | 194-204 |
| Date | 03 October 2008 |
| Author | Sara Julibert |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
Employee attitudes to
information sharing: a case study
at the European Central Bank
Sara Julibert
European Central Bank, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the perceptions and attitudes of employees
towards information sharing as well as the possible reasons behind these attitudes in the specific
organizational context of the European Central Bank (ECB).
Design/methodology/approach – Data obtained in interviews with seven employees were
analyzed using the grounded theory technique of constant comparative analysis. Categories, their
sub-categories, attributes and dimensions were used to group data about related concepts and these
groupings, and the emerging relations between categories, were linked to theoretical questions
regarding the perceptions and attitudes of information sharing amongst ECB employees.
Findings – The employees interviewed acknowledged the advantages of information sharing and
expressed the need for greater access to information as well as more open communication with
colleagues. The fear of disruptive intrusions to the creative process and the influence of personality
and national culture on the willingness to share were raised by some interviewees. The participants’
perceptions of the organizational support to information sharing and their possible influence on
employees’ attitudes to share with colleagues also emerged.
Research limitations/implications – Validity of findings would benefit from the use of additional
data collection methods; observation or the use of focus groups could provide data that would not
normally be obtained in the interview setting. Quantitative methods could be used to measure the
impact of some of the elements identified.
Practical implications – Organizations need to take into account a number of factors that may
enhance or inhibit information sharing behaviours. Employees seem to be inclined to adopt
information practices that would contribute to improving efficiency but the unambiguous support of
the management and the organization to such practices seems to be crucial to their success.
Originality/value – The descriptions obtained through the interviews provide a rich picture of
different elements, from diverse perspectives, that influence the current information sharing attitudes
of employees in the case study organization. This constitutes a first step in the integration of
theoretical accounts of information sharing previously studied independently from each other.
Keywords Knowledge sharing,Employee attitudes, Central banks,Europe
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Information sharing in the workplace is generally regarded by organizations as a
desirable behaviour towards which aspects of different nature contribute. In the
current digital world, there are many tools that allow us to easily share info rmation
amongst co-workers. However, how do employees perceive information sharing?
Are there fears and concerns in employees’ minds against more open information
practices?
The European Central Bank (ECB) is currently implementing DARWIN, an
Electronic Document and Records Management System (EDRMS). The main goal of the
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0956-5698.htm
RMJ
18,3
194
Records Management Journal
Vol. 18 No. 3, 2008
pp. 194-204
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0956-5698
DOI 10.1108/09565690810916447
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