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
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