Microsoft Word 2007 ichrie conference Proceedings Final-Final 06-06-07. doc

 
2007 Annual International CHRIE Conference & Exposition 
353
Figure 2.
The final model 
Cognitive Dimension
Relational Dimension
Propensity
to share
Low Self-Efficacy
& High Outcome
Expectations
Intention to participate
and share
0.264
**
0.180**
0.441**
-0.25
7**
R²=0.61
0.048
0.223
0.014
Chi-square
408.3
df
236
Normed
Chi-Square
1.73
GFI
0.84
CFI
0.90
RMSEA
0.06
Fit Indices
(** indicates a significance at 
α
= .05) 
 
Therefore, to understand knowledge sharing in an online environment, one must look into the structure of 
the social grouping surrounding an individual. While developing knowledge sharing systems, it is important to 
encourage and enhance manager’s identification with the group at the early stage and establish reward and 
recognition mechanisms to entice active participation. These practices can be very relevant to this study context 
wherein the online community would be built for an existing trade association with international members dispersed 
geographically and reward/recognition structures can be easily established such as recognition of monthly “Online 
Experts” with annual conference fee discounts. The results of this study also emphasize the importance role 
organizations can play in encouraging both intra- and inter- organizational knowledge sharing.
The Hypothesis 3 (path coefficient = 0.441) was supported to indicate that the propensity to share 
knowledge was also found to have a significantly positive impact on knowledge sharing intention. One aspect of this 
dimension is the distinction between organization-specific information and personal expertise. Consistent with 
Constant 
et al
’s (1996) findings, results show that individuals who believe that certain forms of information as 
belonging to the organization are not comfortable sharing them outside of the organization whereas they view 
personal expertise as their own property and are more willing to share it with members in the online community. 
Significant benefits can be accrued if organizations can carefully frame their member’s views about different forms 
of knowledge and attitude towards sharing (Jarvenpaa & Staples, 2000), which is directly linked to the success of 
various knowledge sharing systems initiatives. Finally, the authors found a significant support for low self-efficacy 
and high outcome expectations (path coefficient = -0.257) that impair online knowledge-sharing intention. Online 
communities of practice are fundamentally technology-based and the comfort level with usage of such technical 
tools seems to be a good predictor of knowledge sharing. If individual members feel that such systems are too 
complex to use, then their active participation is negatively affected. Proper education/training and supporting 
functionalities should be in place to enable effective use of technology tools for facilitating knowledge sharing 
activities. Prior research (Wasko & Faraj, 2000) showed that knowledge sharing in online communities of practice is 
facilitated by a sense of reciprocity and fairness in knowledge exchanges. This bears on an individual’s perception 
that knowledge sharing is being rewarded through two-way communications. Online knowledge-based system 
developers should always provide open online “channels” (e.g., asynchronized messaging boards or synchronized 

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