INTRODUCTION (DIXON, 2002). IN TODAY’S KNOWLEDGE DRIVEN ECONOMY, TH...

1. Introduction

(Dixon, 2002).

In today’s knowledge driven economy, the

acquisition, use, and leveraging of

Calls are currently being made in the

knowledge are important for success.

literature for more research on knowledge

They also are important merely for

sharing in organisations, particularly in the

survival, as organisations everywhere

area of questioning (Cooper, 2003). This

have generally begun to understand the

paper addresses both this call and the lack

knowledge management process. Grant

of research on recipients by examining

(1996), regards knowledge as the “most

how the form of questions posed to a

strategically important resource” that an

person holding the desired knowledge (i.e.

organisation possesses (p.376). A number

the source) might impact the recipient’s

of authors suggest that organisational

attitude toward any knowledge received

knowledge resides in the interactions

from the source. Specifically, the form of

between individuals and therefore, forms

the question was manipulated in a

the basis of competitive advantage (Argote

laboratory experiment to observe its

& Ingram, 2000; Nonaka, 1991; Spender &

impact on recipient attitude toward

Grant, 1996). However, implicit in these

knowledge received.

transactions is the assumption that

individuals will share with and transfer

The paper is organised as follows. We

their knowledge to others, which may or

start with a review of the literature on

may not occur in circumstances where

knowledge sharing, focusing on source

knowledge sharing is regarded as a

and recipient individuals and the potential

voluntary action (Dougherty, 1999).

effect of question structure when sharing

knowledge. This is followed by a

What is known about knowledge sharing

discussion of the experimental

stems mainly from studies focussed on the

methodology, design and the measures

individual who is the source of the

employed, and the results obtained and

knowledge. Such studies take the

closes with a short discussion and

perspective of factors that impede its

conclusion.

sharing, including, Kalling’s (2003) study

of motivation to share, various studies on