Factors influencing knowledge sharing among information and communication technology artisans in Nigeria
| Published date | 09 May 2016 |
| Pages | 148-169 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JSIT-02-2016-0009 |
| Date | 09 May 2016 |
| Author | Funmilola Olubunmi Omotayo,Samuel Oyelami Babalola |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Information systems,Information & communications technology |
Factors inuencing knowledge
sharing among information and
communication technology
artisans in Nigeria
Funmilola Olubunmi Omotayo and Samuel Oyelami Babalola
Africa Regional Center for Information Science (ARCIS),
University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors inuencing knowledge sharing (KS)
among information and communication technology (ICT) artisans in Nigeria by adopting the social
exchange and social capital theories.
Design/methodology/approach – Survey research design was adopted. Convenience and snowball
sampling techniques were used to select the respondents. In total, 285 copies of questionnaire were
distributed, of which 214 copies were considered useful for data analysis, giving a 75.09 per cent
response rate.
Findings – The results show that the gender of the artisans, perceived benets, social identication,
shared language and goals had positive signicant and relationships with KS except social
identication where the relationship was negative.
Research limitations/implications – The ndings and conclusion from this paper are subjected to
a number of limitations. Because the population was limited to a small population and the study adopted
convenience and snowball techniques, the results cannot be generalised to all ICT artisans in Nigeria.
Practical implications – The paper conrms the role of social exchange and social capital theories in
interpreting individual’s behaviour in KS and provides useful insights on how to implement good KS
practices among the artisans.
Social implications – This paper could assist policymakers in promoting and implementing KS
practices among professionals and quasi-professionals who contribute to the gross domestic product of
the country.
Originality/value – This paper is one of the rst pieces of empirical research on KS among
information technology artisans in Nigeria that used the social exchange and social capital theories.
Keywords Social capital, Nigeria, Information communication technology, Knowledge sharing,
Artisan, Social exchange
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
Knowledge is described as the collection of individual’s skills and acquired learning, and
one of the most important assets of any organisation. Through the harnessing and
exploitation of acquired knowledge, people develop new innovative and competitive
tactics and strategies, which is done through the process of knowledge management
(KM). Given the fact that individuals or organisations struggle with knowledge loss
resulting from employee retirement, job transfer, mobility, alternative work
arrangements and death, the sharing and transferring of knowledge is very vital to KM.
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
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JSIT
18,2
148
Received 11 February 2016
Revised 24 February 2016
Accepted 2 March 2016
Journalof Systems and
InformationTechnology
Vol.18 No. 2, 2016
pp.148-169
©Emerald Group Publishing Limited
1328-7265
DOI 10.1108/JSIT-02-2016-0009
For instance, when an individual dies or leaves an organisation, his idea, information,
experience, contact, relationships and insights leave with him if no attempts are made to
identify, capture and share this knowledge. How then can knowledge be preserved?
Knowledge is best preserved by sharing. Therefore, knowledge sharing (KS) is
considered to be the most essential process of KM.
KS is a social interaction culture, involving the exchange of knowledge, experiences
and skills. It is an activity through which knowledge (information, skills or expertise) is
exchanged among people, communities or organisations. Wei et al. (2012) explain that
KS is the dissemination or exchange of explicit or tacit knowledge, ideas, experiences or
even skills from one individual to another individual, while Cheng et al. (2009) posit that
KS is about communicating knowledge within a group of people. Therefore, it is fair to
state that KS is a key element in the survival of any cultural system as KS is a key
process in translating individual learning into organisational capability. KS not only
improves competence of the people that are involved in the process but it also benets
the community or organisations by speeding up the deployment of knowledge.
KS has received immense attention because of the recognition of its value in learning,
knowledge creation and innovation. Sharing of knowledge brings about increase in
productivity and its importance cannot be overlooked. Parekh (2009) highlights some
benets of KS: helps to avoid reinventing research, reduces redundant work, reduces
cost of inventions and expedites creation of knowledge with the help of experts and
experienced persons. When properly managed, KS can greatly improve work quality,
decision-making skills, problem-solving efciency as well as competency (Yang and
Chen, 2007). KS is also a learning experience for the sharer. For example, if employees
are motivated to share knowledge with their peers but they are not sure if they are able
to communicate the knowledge in a manner in which it will be understood, they are more
likely to use KS as an opportunity to deepen their own understanding and nd a better
way to organise and explain the knowledge before they share it. Moreover, knowledge
sharers may learn others’ perspectives on the same issue or problem being discussed.
Additionally, individuals may share their ideas with others to further develop them and
to facilitate creativity.
However, a fundamental problem is that people often lack the desire to share their
knowledge with other members of the community or organisation (Denning, 2006). The
willingness of individual to share and integrate their knowledge is one of the central
barriers to KM. Davenport and Prusak (1998) explain that KS is often unnatural because
people think that their knowledge is valuable and important. Liang et al. (2008) also
explain that people who possess great amounts of knowledge are unwilling to share it.
Ruggles (1998) contributes that the biggest challenge organisations face with regard to
KM is changing people’s behaviour, particularly with regard to KS.
The uniqueness and dynamism of the ICT industry has brought tremendous
advancement in computing and telecommunication technology, which has necessitated
the sprouting of different information and communication technology (ICT)
professionals and quasi-professionals in Nigeria. This dynamism brought many
artisan-oriented ICT businesses into the Nigerian economy to cater for ICT needs of the
people. O’Reilly-Briggs (2010, p. 8) describes artisan as “any skilled manual worker who
employs creative thinking, dexterity and specialised knowledge to make functional or
decorative items; and this denition includes both tradespeople and craft workers”. As
means of livelihood, artisanship provides an ideal avenue for creative productivity and
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Factors
inuencing
knowledge
sharing
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