Individual preferences towards knowledge creation and knowledge sharing: First empirical results

Abstract

This working paper presents findings from research project on individual preferences towards participation in knowledge creation and knowledge sharing processes. Contemporary literature usually views knowledge creation and knowledge sharing as either independent or positively related processes. However, analyzing various conditions for efficient course of these processes, we have proposed that in some cases these conditions (and, respectively, the processes themselves) may contradict each other. Translating this idea into individual level of analysis of organizational knowledge-related processes, we hypothesized that there were two distinct non-overlapping groups of individuals - those more disposed towards knowledge creation, and those more disposed towards knowledge sharing. Data analysis proved our hypothesis and revealed some factors that may influence affiliation of an individual with one of these groups.