Influences on Knowledge Sharing in the Academes: Implications for Individual Performance

Abstract

Performance can be achieved as well as enhanced by giving individuals practical and useful knowledge. It is also contended that knowledge sharing(KS) among individual employees significantly influence the performance across organizations. The purpose of this paper is to examine the influences on knowledge sharing practices in academic environment with the view to drawing implications for individual performance. The paper largely drew on secondary data. Based on the review of literature, Ipe's categorization of influences on knowledge sharing practices was examined. The influences include: nature of knowledge, working culture, motivation to share and opportunities to share. In addition, this research revealed that knowledge sharing has the potential to enhance academics' performance, thus, the more positive these factors shape the exchange of knowledge the more impact it exerts on individual performance. However, there is little empirical research to validate these claims. Hence, this study proposed a conceptual relationship (model) to establish a link between the influences, knowledge sharing and individual academic staff performance. In final submission, this paper is limited to just proposing a model in that, it is a conceptual paper. Thus, this paper calls on future research to be empirical to validate the result of this research.