Analysis of Knowledge Sharing Barriers in Sri Lankan Software Companies

Knowledge sharing is a vital factor for the success of organizations, mainly for the knowledge-intensive organizations such as software companies. This study aims to investigate the status of the knowledge sharing attitude and the existing knowledge sharing barriers in Sri Lankan software companies. The Theory of Planned Behaviour is applied as the basis of this study and assessed ten hypothesized associations among dependent variable; attitude for knowledge sharing (AT); and independent variables; motivation and willingness (MW), trust among individuals (TR), time (T), power relationship (PR), expected reciprocity (ER), communication skills (CS), organizational culture and structure (OS), leadership (LD), reward systems (RS), and technological infrastructure (TI). Measurement model analysis, correlation analysis, and regression analysis were used to analyse the data. The seven factors, which have been identified to have a potentially high significance with knowledge sharing attitude were then considered as the barrier factors, which indicate a high possibility to influence a negative impact on the knowledge-sharing attitude. Meanwhile, acquisition growth was identified to have the highest knowledge-sharing attitude, and the network growth was identified to have the least favourable attitude for knowledge sharing. Findings provide convincing evidence of lack of time, improper organizational structures, PR, language and ER as the main barriers associated with knowledge sharing in software companies. The study suggests some solutions to overcome these barriers and directions for future researchers to conduct their studies.

Dilemma Between ‘It's My or It's My Organization's Territory'

In this research article, the authors attempted to compare how and to what extent knowledge base psychological ownership (KBPO), organization based psychological ownership (OBPO) and territoriality predict knowledge hiding behavior in different knowledge base industries in India. A sample of 429 employees from four knowledge base industries - Audio & Video, Machinery Manufacturing, Pharmaceutical and Telecom - was surveyed on the four constructs. A Hierarchical Regression method was used to determine whether KBPO and OBPO had direct effects on knowledge hiding, or indirect effects via Territoriality. The authors also tested whether OBPO moderated the indirect positive effect of KBPO on knowledge hiding. It has been found that KBPO has indirect effect on knowledge hiding behavior which is mediated by Territoriality in various knowledge base sectors except the Telecom Industry. Territoriality is antecedent to knowledge hiding in all knowledge base industries in India. OBPO does not have any direct or indirect effect on knowledge hiding but moderates positively the relationship between KBPO and knowledge hiding in the Machinery Manufacturing industry.