The theory of planned behavior and knowledge sharing. A systematic review and meta-analytic structural equation modelling
| Published date | 06 March 2019 |
| Date | 06 March 2019 |
| Pages | 76-94 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/VJIKMS-10-2018-0086 |
| Author | Tuyet-Mai Nguyen,Phong Tuan Nham,Viet-Ngu Hoang |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Knowledge management,Knowledge management systems |
The theory of planned behavior
and knowledge sharing
A systematic review and meta-analytic
structural equation modelling
Tuyet-Mai Nguyen
Department of Marketing, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia and
Department of Economic Information System and E-commerce,
Thuongmai University, Hanoi, Vietnam
Phong Tuan Nham
School of Business Administration, VNU University of Economics and Business,
Hanoi, Vietnam, and
Viet-Ngu Hoang
QUT Business School, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
Abstract
Purpose –The theory of planned behavior(TPB) is the most frequently used model in knowledge sharing.
However, the empirical results are inconclusive on whether TPB can provide reasonable prediction of
knowledge sharing behavior (KSB). This study aims to examine TPB in knowledge sharing and identify
potentialmoderators of relationships among constructsin TPB.
Design/methodology/approach –This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of26
studies examining TPB in knowledgesharing. A meta-analytical structural equation model (MASEM) was
used to test originaland modified TPB models and examine potential moderators.
Findings –The results show that attitude has the strongest relationship with intention, followed by
perceived behavior control and then subjective norms. Intention shows the strongest association with KSB,
followed by perceived behavior control. The moderator roles of culture, economic wealth and information
technologysupport are found in the model.
Originality/value –This study is the first attemptto provide a systematic review and MASEM in TPB in
knowledgesharing.
Keywords Theory of planned behavior, Knowledge sharing, Systematic review,
Meta-analytic structural equation modeling
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Knowledge sharing has received increasing attention from researchers for more than a
decade. Knowledge sharing is an individual action where acquired knowledge is
disseminated to others. It includes both transmission and absorption processes: the
knowledge poster externalizesthe knowledge while the knowledge collector internalizes the
This research is funded by Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development
(NAFOSTED) under grant number 502.02-2016.03.
VJIKMS
49,1
76
Received11 October 2018
Revised7 December 2018
Accepted20 December 2018
VINEJournal of Information and
KnowledgeManagement Systems
Vol.49 No. 1, 2019
pp. 76-94
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2059-5891
DOI 10.1108/VJIKMS-10-2018-0086
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/2059-5891.htm
knowledge Hendriks (1999),Hoet al. (2011). Because of sharing behavior, knowledge can be
transmitted from individual to group and from one generation to another (Pai and Tsai,
2016). From a knowledge-based viewpoint,knowledge is identified as the most strategically
important resource and a principal source of valuecreation, which brings many benefits in
the forms of performance and innovation at individual, organizational and at wider macro
levels of association (Alsharoet al., 2017).
Knowledge sharing relies on a number of factors, particularly motivation and social
environment (Ryu et al.,2003). As it is considered voluntary behavior, not allindividuals are
inclined to share knowledge withothers. For instance, in a highly competitive environment,
individuals may be reluctant to share knowledge because they feel a sense of threat to their
competitive advantage, power, or status. Consequently, successful knowledge sharing can
be difficult to achieveand encouraging an individual to share knowledge is not an easy task.
Literature review
Previous literature has attempted to use several theories to understand knowledge sharing
behavior (KSB) (Chiu et al.,2006;Hauet al., 2013). Among them, theory of planned behavior
(TPB) is used most often to predict KSB(Chen et al., 2009;Chen, 2011). Indeed, TPB with its
solid theoretical framework has been considered the foundational backbone with which to
examine the psychologicalfactors driving KSB. Therefore, the number of studies using TPB
as a means to understandKSB has increased significantly over the last decade.
TPB was developed by Ajzen (1991), and was an extension of the theory of reasoned
action (TRA) (Fishbein and Ajzen, 1981). According to TPB, KSB can be adequately
predicted by intentions which reflect the amount of individual effort devoted to perform a
type of behavior. In turn, intention is determined by three antecedents: attitude, subjective
norms (SN) and perceived behaviorcontrol (PBC) (Figure 1). PBC is included in TPB but not
in TRA as TRA assumes that mostsocial actions are volitionally controlled (Ajzen,1991).
Most applications of TPB in predicting KSB provide empirical examinations of the
strengths of correlationsamong constructs and the order of the relative strength of the three
antecedents in the relationship with intention to share knowledge. However, empirical
results reported in the literature present a relatively high level of variation. For instance, So
and Bolloju (2005) found a strong correlation between attitude and intention to share
knowledge among information technology professionals in Hong Kong(r= 0.88) but Jolaee
et al. (2014) reported a medium association (r= 0.3). Ho et al. (2011) suggested a strong
relationship (r= 0.66) between PBC and intentionwhile Shah and Mahmood (2013) showed
an insignificant correlation for middle managers of five industrial units in Pakistan.
Similarly, Park et al. (2012)reported a strong correlation (r= 0.66) between SN and intention
while Papadopoulos etal. (2012) found a small correlation (r= 0.12) and Shah and Mahmood
Figure 1.
The original TPB
model
Theory of
planned
behavior
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