Organisational factors for effective knowledge sharing: An empirical study of Korean learning teams

In a knowledge-intensive work environment, communities of practices (CoPs) are regarded as an important instrument for collaborative learning within an organisation. CoPs are informal relational structures that connect people for the purpose of sharing expertise and experience. In spite of the wide proliferation of CoPs in diverse organisation, the factors leading to effective knowledge sharing in CoPs are still not well understood. Plus, empirical studies are still rare. Therefore, this paper presents a research model that defines the critical factors determining knowledge sharing in CoPs. The contribution of community member motivation and trust to successful knowledge sharing in CoPs is investigated. Plus, the moderating roles of management support and team culture are examined in relation to member motivation and trust for knowledge sharing. Based on extensive survey data from Korean multinational companies, the empirical results show that motivation and trust have an active influence on the knowledge sharing process in CoPs. The roles of management support and team culture are also discussed, along with the theoretical and managerial implications.