The factors determining knowledge sharing intention among information professionals in Nigeria: a path model analysis

Abstract

Rationale of study - Several studies have considered the factors determining the knowledge sharing intention among employees. However, studies  focusing on information professionals and factors determining their knowledge sharing intention through a path model are either limited or been  ignored.

Methodology - In this study, the researcher developed and tested a path model that explains the factors that determine the intention of information  professionals in Nigeria to share knowledge with their colleagues through a survey design.

Findings - The results revealed that a correlation exists between the overall knowledge sharing intention score and the other knowledge sharing  intention factors. The results demonstrate that citizenship behaviour had the highest correlation with knowledge sharing intention (r = 0.852). This is  followed by creativity and innovation (r =0.704), and interaction frequency (r = 0.558). The results of the regression of knowledge sharing intention on the  ten related factors show an adjusted R-square value of 0.661, and an F-ratio of 105.37; the latter of which is significant at 0.05 level (0.000 < 0.05). These  indicate that the ten independent variables jointly (as indicated by the R-square value) explained 76.5% of the variations in the knowledge sharing  intention by the information professionals.

Implications - The research findings have a big bearing on policy formulation and decision making in information and knowledge organisations, the  public and private information sector players, professional associations and information and knowledge training institutions.

Originality - This research has a great value in the sense that it is one of the pioneer studies on information sharing in the context of information   research in Nigeria.