Implication for managers
Based on the results of formal quantitative research, trust and knowledge self-efficacy have the
strongest impact on the two central processes of knowledge sharing: knowledge donation and
collection. Some suggestions for telecommunications enterprises managers are given as follows:
For trust factors: building an open and comfortable working environment based on mutual trust and
consensus; strengthening collective activities, exchanging between employees, between departments;
building a teamwork model for each project; training awareness for employees about teamwork spirit,
mutual support in work. For knowledge self-efficacy: giving compliments to employees who contribute
their ideas; designing a software system that recognizes employee contributions to collective work and
regularly evaluates the effectiveness of those contributions to the organization's performance;
promoting training or building a learning organization to improve qualifications and expertise for
employees; designing or buying software that includes tests to examine professional knowledge related
to employees’ work. The results of qualitative and quantitative research show that knowledge sharing
consists of two central processes of knowledge donation and collection that are related to individuals'
innovative work behaviors. Therefore, managers need to make proposals to enhance knowledge sharing
to impact on innovative work behavior.
The results of interviews with telecommunication enterprises employees showed that some answers
directly addressed the behavior of innovation such as:
An employee with 6 - 10 years of experience answered: “If there is no measure, employees like me
always want to do it the old way, do not want to change or improve at work. In the business I am doing
a lot when it is difficult to give my opinion to senior leaders, so I think there must be appropriate
measures to change our way of thinking and how we have been doing for years”.
A manager with more than 15 years of experience answered: “I often use brainstorming methods for
employees to think and give ideas and suggestions at work. The important thing is how to apply the
ideas and suggestions of the employees, who will be the ones who do it because if not applied, all ideas
and suggestions will only be on paper forever”.
Therefore, the authors propose a number of suggestions for telecommunication enterprises managers
to influence the behavior of innovation of employees:
Firstly, applying Kaizen method in management. Managers encourage employees to come up with new
ideas and suggestions through suggestion boxes, software systems, social networks, etc., then
evaluating and choosing new ideas with feasible proposals to apply. Kaizen method could beT. P. L. Nguyen et al. /Uncertain Supply Chain Management 7 (2019) 629
successfully implemented only when both Vietnamese executives and managers have innovative and
modern thinking ideas. Secondly, organizing seminars periodically with the participation of managers
and employees in each department. At the seminar, each employee must comment on his/her current
work and discuss plans, development strategies, work processes, new products/ services. After the
seminar, feasible ideas will be assigned to the proponent and some colleagues to implement. Thirdly,
taking the time and resources to test and implement new ideas. The work of Vietnamese telecom
enterprise employees mostly has to run according to the set plan and schedule, so in many cases they
are forced to use traditional methods to deploy. New ideas when applied are not always successful right
from the first time, so managers need to build plans, assign tasks and spend time testing.
16 trang |
Chia sẻ: hachi492 | Lượt xem: 7 | Lượt tải: 0
Bạn đang xem nội dung tài liệu Knowledge sharing and innovative work behavior: The case of Viet Nam, để tải tài liệu về máy bạn click vào nút DOWNLOAD ở trên
een donors and recipients in the process of knowledge
sharing; Oldenkamp (2001) discussed how knowledge sharing relates to people with knowledge and
recipients wish to learn knowledge; Ardichvili et al. (2003) with the view that knowledge sharing
included the provision of new knowledge and the demand for new knowledge.
The factors that may affect these two processes are described in details as follows:
Trust
According to Homans (1958), social exchange theory suggests that individuals exchange resources
through social exchange relationships. Social exchange is characterized by unspecified personal
obligations, internal rewards and trust (Blau, 1964). According to Bandura (1989), social cognitive
theory argued that individuals build and form trust before sharing their knowledge so without trust they
will not share. Trust is defined as the extent to which an employee believes that knowledge sharing will
benefit them and they will not be exploited by any party in the organization (Riege, 2005; Jones &
T. P. L. Nguyen et al. /Uncertain Supply Chain Management 7 (2019)
621
George, 1998). Trust in an organization improves connectivity between members and is seen as the
center of all organizational relationships (Dyer & Singh, 1998). Individuals feel encouraged to share
knowledge when they find a trust in the relationship between recipients and sharers (Okyere-Kwakye
et al., 2012). Ford and Chan (2003) argued that trust is one of the most important factors that promotes
the process of sharing knowledge successfully. Huang et al. (2008) found that individuals in many cases
and situations tend to hide the knowledge which they have if they are unsure of the outcome of sharing,
so building trust at work is the first step to share knowledge, effectively. Therefore,
H1. Trust positively influences employee willingness to both (a) donate and (b) collect knowledge.
Fig. 1. Research Model
Enjoyment in helping others
Self-deterministic theory (Deci & Ryan, 2008) determines each individual's intrinsic motivation derives
from an individual's inner self and is not related to external pressure. The enjoyment in helping others
is a form of autonomy determined by the sense of pleasure involved in an activity and doing that
activity. Enjoyment in helping others is rooted in the concept of altruism, in contrast to selfishness,
which is belief in impartial action and non-profit interest in the interests of others (Lin, 2007). Osterloh
and Frey (2000) argued that knowledge sharing is motivated by the intrinsic motivations of the person
sharing. Wasko and Faraj (2005) also demonstrated that individuals are intrinsically motivated to
contribute knowledge because they like to help others. Altruism can promote an individual's sharing of
knowledge with others without regard to the benefits received (Al-Qadhi et al., 2015). Therefore,
H2. Enjoyment in helping others positively influences employee willingness to both (a) donate and (b)
collect knowledge.
Knowledge self-efficacy
Social cognitive theory (Bandura, 1997) argues that knowledge self-efficacy has an impact on the
ability to organize certain behaviors so people can develop knowledge self-efficacy to exchange their
knowledge during the cooperation. The theory of self-determination (Deci & Ryan, 2008) describes the
need for competence as a need to feel confident, know exactly what is done and be able to do it yourself.
Self-knowledge is an individual's knowledge that can help solve work-related problems (Luthans,
Trust
Enjoyment in
helping others
Knowledge
self-efficacy
Management
support
Using
information and
communication
technology
Knowledge
donation
Knowledge
collection
Innovative work
behavior
622
2002); therefore, it is a form of capacity that has been shown to influence knowledge sharing. When
employees think their expertise can improve work efficiency and increase productivity, their attitude
towards knowledge sharing will be changed and as a result they will be more inclined to share
knowledge with others (Shin et al., 2007). Knowledge self-efficacy can encourage employees to share
knowledge with others (Wasko & Faraj, 2005). Many researchers have shown that the more confident
employees are with their intellectual capital, the more willing they are to share knowledge to fulfill
specific responsibilities (Constant et al., 1994). Self-control of knowledge makes work effective and
helps to resolve work-related obstacles (Luthans, 2002). Therefore, some hypotheses are proposed as
follows:
H3. Knowledge self-efficacy positively influences employee willingness to both (a) donate and (b)
collect knowledge.
Management support
Self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 2008) and motivation theory also determine the impact of
external motivation on individual behavior and argue that external motivation stems from external
pressure (Olatokun & Nwafor, 2012). Therefore, external motivation to promote an act of sharing
knowledge and external actors can be the management support, rewards, etc. The active participation
in sharing knowledge of workers depends on the support of managers in the organization (Al-Qadhi et
al., 2015). Management support is seen as an important factor influencing knowledge sharing among
employees (Lee et al., 2006). Islam et al. (2014) emphasized the role of management support for
knowledge sharing: leaders contribute to employees’ learning from personal experience, persuade
employees to transfer assigning knowledge to form new knowledge. Thus,
H4. Management support positively influences employee willingness to both (a) donate and (b) collect
knowledge.
Using information and communication technology
The technology acceptance model (TAM) argues that the use of technology in regular activities,
interactions and communication between individuals or members of a group or society affects behavior
as sharing knowledge. By improving access to knowledge and eliminating obstacles in space and time
between knowledge workers, information and communication technology (ICT) can improve the level
of knowledge sharing (Hendriks, 1999). Information and communication technology and its ability to
spread knowledge across different units of an organization can enable better comprehension in complex
organizational environments (Coakes, 2006). Information technology is also seen as an indispensable
tool to support the discovery of useful knowledge (Ho et al., 2012). Collaboration tools such as intranet
systems allow people to work together and coordinate interaction. Each individual's knowledge,
therefore, is transformed into organizational knowledge through the support of information technology
(Zhao & Luo, 2005). Teece (1998) shared that information and communication technologies reduce
barriers to knowledge sharing. Therefore, it is important to identify relevant knowledge in different
places of an organization to build a technical infrastructure to support and disseminate knowledge.
Since then, the author proposes the following hypotheses:
H5. Using information and communication technology positively influences employee willingness to
both (a) donate and (b) collect knowledge.
2.2. Knowledge sharing and innovative work behavior
Innovative work behavior is defined as the behavior of employees to create, introduce and apply new
ideas intentionally at work, a group or an organization that contributes to performance (Janssen, 2000).
This behavior is intentional behavior of individuals to create and implement new and useful ideas to
benefit individuals, groups or organizations (Bos-Nehles, 2017). It is also a process for creating new
problem-solving applications that begin with problem identification, finding and implementing
T. P. L. Nguyen et al. /Uncertain Supply Chain Management 7 (2019)
623
organizational solutions (Turgut & Beğenirbaş, 2013). Âmo and Kolvereid (2005) defined innovative
work behavior as the ability to actively work to produce new products; find new markets, new processes
and new combinations. The theory of knowledge creation relates to learn how knowledge is generated
from individuals, organizations and environments (Nonaka & Takeuchi, 1995). The creative theory of
knowledge emphasizes interpersonal interaction to form new knowledge, which is the basis for the
relationship between innovative work behavior and knowledge sharing. At the same time, previous
researchers such as Radaelli et al. (2014), Akhavan et al. (2015), Jaberi (2016), Phung et al. (2017),
Akram et al. (2018) affirmed in their studies the relationship between knowledge donation and
collection with the act of innovation. Therefore, the hypotheses are proposed as follows:
H6. Knowledge donation and collection positively influence the employee’s innovative work behavior.
3. Research methodology
Data collection
We conducted in-depth interviews with 10 employees of Vietnam telecommunication enterprises in the
city of Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh to evaluate and adjust the questionnaire, and clarify the
perceptions regarding two processes of knowledge sharing and innovative work behavior. The
questions in the in-depth interview focused on the following issues: knowledge sharing conditions,
knowledge sharing content, factors affecting the process of knowledge donation, factors affecting the
process of knowledge collection and the relationship among knowledge donation, collection and
innovative work behavior. The contents of the interview were recorded, stored and encrypted in the
computer. The recording was then tape-taped, synthesized and analyzed to make conclusions to
understand the similarities and differences between theoretical and practical models at Vietnam
telecommunication enterprises. From the results of in-depth interviews, we identified the formal model
for the study. A quantitative preliminary study with 25 employees was conducted to complete the
questionnaire, to avoid errors and mislead the meaning of the observations, and to verify the reliability
of the scales before conducting a formal investigation. Formal quantitative research was conducted
through a survey with a sample of employees currently working in telecommunications enterprises in
the North, Central and South of Vietnam, specifically the authors conducted a total of 30
telecommunications enterprises across the country, accounting for about 40% of the total number of
telecommunications service providers currently doing business.
Table 1
Characteristics of the sample
Category Number of respondent Percentages (%)
Gender Male 243 61.4
Female 153 38.6
Under 20 0 0.0
Age From 20 to 30 135 34.1
From 31 to 45 191 48.2
From 46 to 60 70 17.7
Intermediate 57 14.4
Education qualification Bachelor 254 64.1
Master or doctor 85 21.5
Under 1 year 33 8.3
From 1 to 5 years 82 20.7
Working experience From 6 to 10 years 183 46.2
From 11 to 15 years 61 15.4
Over 15 years 37 9.4
Hanoi (North) 178 44.9
Working regions Da Nang (Central) 87 22.0
Ho Chi Minh (South) 131 33.1
624
Their positions of employees in departments are much related to knowledge sharing such as:
technology/information operations center, planning department, labor organization/human resources
department, research and product development, technology department, quality management
department, project management department and other functional departments. The authors
investigated through questionnaires sent directly and via the Internet (email, social networks and
forums) thanks to google docs tool. Time to collect data was July 2018. Statistics of 396 observations
in the official quantitative research show that the sample of Vietnam telecommunication enterprises
employees is mainly male (accounting for 61.4%); most of them are in the age group from 31 to 45
(accounting for 48.2%), and also belong to the age group from 20 to 30 (accounting for 34.1%). In
addition educational qualification of the surveyed employees has mainly graduated bachelor
(accounting for 64.1%); the number of employees with 6 to 10 years of work experience accounts for
nearly half of the total number of observations, namely 46.2%; followed by 1 to 5 years, accounting
for 20.7%. In addition, observations are still distributed more in the North, accounting for 44.9%; then
to the South, accounting for 33.1%; finally to the Central, accounting for 22.0%.
Measures
Scales were drawn from literature review and in-depth interviews. Observations and scales were used
from foreign studies, which were translated from English into Vietnamese. After completing the
translation, the authors consulted with some experts to ensure that the variables and scales were
accurately and clearly translated and did not significantly change the meaning. At the same time, the
authors added a new item for management support. All constructs were measured using multiple items.
All items were measured using a five point Likert-type scale (ranging from 1= strongly disagree to 5 =
strongly agree). A list of items for each scale was presented in the appendix. The measurement approach
for each theoretical construct in the model was described briefly below.
Trust depicting the trust of individuals about knowledge sharing will be beneficial and not exploited by
any party in the organization was measured using five items derived from Seba et al. (2012). Enjoyment
in helping others was measured using four items derived from Wasko and Faraj (2005), which focused
on belief in the act of carefree and unprofessional interest in the interests of others. A five-item scale
measuring knowledge self-efficacy was adapted from a measure developed by Bock et al. (2005). It
shows the actions of individuals to realize their abilities to provide their knowledge to other individuals,
groups and organizations. Management support was measured using five items adapted from studies
by Tan and Zhao (2003) and a new item of the authors. These measurements are the vision of the
organization related to managers’ involvement in the effective use of knowledge. Additionally, using
information technology and communication was measured based on six items taken from Xue et al.
(2011), which referred to the degree of technological usability and capability regarding knowledge
sharing. Knowledge donation was measured using four items adapted from an investigation by De Vries
et al. (2006) which assessed the degree of employee willingness to contribute knowledge to colleagues.
Knowledge collection was measured using four items derived from De Vries et al. (2006), which
referred to consult with colleagues to share their own knowledge. Finally, innovative work behavior
was measured using four items derived from Bysted (2013); Scott and Bruce (1994); Janssen (2000)
which referred to the behavior of employees to create, introduce and apply new ideas intentionally at
work, a group or an organization.
4. Research results
The reliability analysis was conducted to ascertain both consistency and stability.
Cronbach’s alpha is a reliability measurement that expresses how well the items in a
set are positively correlated to each other. Previous studies have shown that items with a small item-
total correlation (less than 0.3) will be excluded and criteria for scale selection when Cronbach's Alpha
reliability is greater than 0.6. The larger the Cronbach's Alpha, the higher the internal consistency
(Nunnally and Bernstein, 1994). Taken together, eight variables in the survey had Cronbach’s Alpha
ranged from 0.781 to 0.885. All of these values were above 0.6, generally considered to be the higher
T. P. L. Nguyen et al. /Uncertain Supply Chain Management 7 (2019)
625
limit of reliability (Hair et al., 1995). However, 3 items (Tru5, Se5 and Ma4) were excluded from the
study due to the correlation of item-total <0.3 (Hair et al., 2010). The appendix presents Cronbach’s
Alpha of indicators in the measurement model.
Table 2
KMO and Bartlett’s Test
Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy 0.772
Bartlett's Test of Sphericity
Approx. Chi-Square 10401.334
Df 861
Sig. 0.000
Fig. 2. Structural model analysis (SEM)
To confirm that this study data set is correct for factor analysis, the author assessed whether the Kaiser-
Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure of sampling adequacy value was 0.6 or above and determined that Sig.
of Barlett’s test of Sphericity value was significant (i.e.: 0.05 or less). As a result, all coefficients are
relevant and significant in this study when KMO > 0.6 and sig. = 0. To define how many factors to
retain, a number of issues were considered. Using Kaiser’s criterion, factors with an eigenvalue greater
than one are suitable. In this phase, all eight components recorded eigenvalues above 1. These eight
components explain 73.476 percent of variance. Subsequently, all observations were included in the
EFA analysis. Specific analysis results are described in the appendix. In verifying the scale, the CFA
method in linear modeling (SEM) analysis has many advantages over conventional methods such as
the coefficient-matching method, exploratory factor analysis (EFA). This method is characterized by
allowing the author to examine the theoretical structure of the scales as well as the relationship between
a research concept and other concepts without deviation from the measurement error (Steenkamp &
Van Trijp, 1991). Adequacy of the model is reflected in Chi-square (CMIN); Chi-square adjusted by
degrees of freedom (CMIN/df); Comparative Fit Index - CFI; Tucker & Lewis Index - TLI; Root Mean
Square Error Approximation - RMSEA. The model is considered appropriate when the GFI, TLI, CFI
values are ≥ 0.9 (Bentler & Bonnet, 1980); CMIN / df ≤ 2; RMSEA ≤ 0.08 (Steiger, 1990). Thọ and
Trang (2008) suggested that the model received TLI, CFI ≥ 0.9, CMIN / df ≤ 2, RMSEA ≤ 0.08, thus
the model was considered appropriate for the data. The authors conducted factor analysis confirmed
(CFA) to test the suitability of scale with the data collected. Results obtained in Fig 2: Chi-square/df =
1.928; GFI = 0.874; TLI= 0.941; CFI =0.947 and RMSEA = 0.048 (standardized estimate), showing
626
scale models suitable for research data. Thus, with the data collected from the telecommunication
enterprises employee survey, the research model and the relationship between the scales are accepted.
Table 3 shows the results of testing hypotheses with path coefficient derived from structural equation
modeling (SEM). Therefore, all hypotheses are accepted because of statistical significance.
Table 3
Unstandardized Regression Weights
Estimate S.E. C.R. P Conclusion
DO ← TE 0.178 0.031 5.797 *** Statistical significance
DO ← TRU 0.505 0.049 10.212 *** Statistical significance
DO ← SE 0.419 0.054 7.723 *** Statistical significance
DO ← EN 0.223 0.059 3.768 *** Statistical significance
DO ← MA 0.361 0.070 5.183 *** Statistical significance
CO ← MA 0.294 0.070 4.194 *** Statistical significance
CO ← EN 0.209 0.060 3.482 *** Statistical significance
CO ← SE 0.456 0.056 8.195 *** Statistical significance
CO ← TRU 0.492 0.050 9.886 *** Statistical significance
CO ← TE 0.177 0.031 5.667 *** Statistical significance
IN01 ← DO 0.201 0.066 3.068 0.002 Statistical significance
IN01 ← CO 0.245 0.061 4.009 *** Statistical significance
Unstandardized Regression Weights (Table 3) shows that the factors affect the two processes of
knowledge donation and collection have P-value less than 0.05. Regression weights positive signs also
reflect these factors have a positive impact on knowledge donation and collection. At the same time, the
influence of knowledge donation and collection to the behavior of innovation is also statistically
significant in this study.
Table 4
Regression Weights
Estimate Estimate
DO ← TE 0.222 CO ← EN 0.168
DO ← TRU 0.457 CO ← SE 0.379
DO ← SE 0.366 CO ← TRU 0.425
DO ← EN 0.188 CO ← TE 0.210
DO ← MA 0.268 IN01 ← DO 0.206
CO ← MA 0.208 IN01 ← CO 0.264
The standardized weight values of standardized weight tables also have positive values reflecting the
positive impact of the factors on the processes of knowledge donation and collection and these two
processes with innovative work behavior. The impact level is expressed through the magnitude of the
standardized weights. For the scale of knowledge donation, trust and knowledge self-efficacy are the most
influential factors in the process of knowledge donation with standardized weights of 0.457 and 0.366
respectively. For the scale of knowledge collection, trust and knowledge self-efficacy are still the most
influential factors in the process of knowledge collection with standardized weights of 0.425 and 0.379
respectively. In the relationship between knowledge donation and collection with innovative work
behavior, knowledge collection has a stronger impact on innovative work behavior with standardized
weights of 0.206 and 0.264 respectively.
5. Discussion and Implications
This research approached both theoretical and practical perspectives. Theoretically, this research
showed a research model for empirical studies to explore factors affecting two knowledge sharing
processes and the relationship between two knowledge sharing processes and innovative work
behavior. The results from a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach have given significant
supports for all hypothesized relations. The results have shown that five factors, namely trust,
T. P. L. Nguyen et al. /Uncertain Supply Chain Management 7 (2019)
627
enjoyment in helping others, knowledge self-efficacy, management support, using information and
communication technology significantly influence knowledge donation and collection processes. The
results have also indicated that employees’ willingness to donate and collect knowledge enable
themselves to improve innovative work behavior. From a practical perspective, some suggestions may
be provided about how enterprises can promote knowledge sharing process to improve employees’
innovative work behavior. Discussion of the findings, implications for managers are described below.
Discuss research findings
The main purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between factors related to knowledge
sharing processes and between knowledge sharing processes and innovative work behavior. After
testing the hypotheses, some conclusions are as follows:
(i) Trust is positively correlated with knowledge donation and collection. This conclusion is consistent
with the results of many studies (Davenport & Prusak, 1998; Costa et al., 2001; Zárraga & Bonache,
2003; Currie & Kerrin, 2003; Wu et al., 2009; Ismail & Yusof, 2010; Lee et al., 2010; Wickramasinghe
& Widyaratne, 2012; Rusly et al., 2014; Al-Qadhi et al., 2015; Binsawad et al., 2017). Trust will not
be exploited, trust in the honesty, responsibility and trust of colleagues when sharing knowledge will
help telecommunication enterprises employees actively communicate and acquire knowledge. They
will share the know-how and skills they have with their colleagues when they believe that their
colleagues will not use the same know-how to confront them or show their intimacy just to get their
share. Many employees desire to acquire knowledge but they only feel assured if their colleagues are
honest and trustworthy when sharing knowledge. In this study, trust is the most influential factor in
both knowledge donation and collection, thus to enhance knowledge sharing, managers need to have
solutions to influence each employees’ trust.
(ii) Enjoyment in helping others is positively correlated with knowledge donation and collection. Many
authors also agree with this observation (Kanaan & Gharibeh, 2013; Sliat & Alnsour, 2013; Binsawad
et al., 2017; Phung et al., 2017; Podrug et al., 2017). In addition, Lin (2007) also concluded enjoyment
in helping others affect both the processes of knowledge donation and collection. Sharing knowledge
or not sharing knowledge depends on the personality and emotional state of each telecommunication
enterprise employee. Knowledge is personal property so when they are interested in sharing, feeling
comfortable when sharing, they will be ready to convey their knowledge to their colleagues and also
be willing to receive knowledge from colleagues.
(iii) Knowledge self-efficacy is positively correlated with knowledge donation and collection. Studies
conclude the relationship between knowledge self-efficacy and knowledge sharing by Constant et al.
(1994), Kankanhalli et al. (2005), Zhang and Fai Ng (2012), Binsawad et al. ( 2017) and Phung et al.
(2017). In particular, Lin (2007) also affirmed the relationship between knowledge self-efficacy and
the two central processes of knowledge sharing: knowledge donation and collection. When employees
themselves have awareness that sharing their knowledge will help their colleagues solve their problems,
help them work together to create new business opportunities for the organization, they will actively
communicate and acquire knowledge. The analysis of linear structure (SEM) leads to the conclusion
that telecommunication enterprises employees want to share knowledge, but in fact, whether they
communicate and acquire knowledge depends largely on knowledge self-efficacy. Therefore, managers
need to have solutions to increase knowledge self-efficacy for employees to promote knowledge
sharing in Vietnamese telecommunications enterprises.
(iv) Management support is positively correlated with knowledge donation and collection. Many
authors in the world also agree with this observation such as Han and Anantatmula (2007), Kanaan et
al. (2013), Sliat and Alnsour (2013), Al-Qadhi et al. (2015), Binsawad et al. (2017), Podrug et al.
(2017), even Lin (2007) also concluded that management support affects two central processes of
628
knowledge sharing: knowledge donation and collection. Al-Qadhi et al. (2015) affirmed that managers
should support employees in all aspects. Thus, the view of the benefits of sharing knowledge,
encouragement as well as helping and facilitating the knowledge sharing, managers will promote
employees to enhance communication and acquire knowledge. In particular, an item was added to the
scale of management support by the author “I was acknowledged by the manager when sharing
knowledge and ideas with colleagues” in accordance with the research model. Employees feel
motivated to share knowledge when they feel support and recognition from their managers for their
behavior.
(v) Using information and communication technology is positively correlated with knowledge donation
and collection. This conclusion coincides with the conclusions in many studies, including studies by
Han and Anantatmula (2007), Zawawi et al. (2011), Kanaan et al. (2013), Binsawad et al. (2017),
Podrug et al. (2017). By the method of linear structural analysis (SEM) with the observation sample as
telecommunications enterprise employees in Vietnam, the authors assert that the use of information
and communication technology really supports the knowledge sharing among employees.
(vi) Knowledge donation and collection are positively correlated with innovative work behavior. This
relationship can be also mentioned by Radaelli et al. (2014), Akhavan et al. (2015), Jaberi (2016),
Phung et al. (2017), Akram et al. (2018).
Implication for managers
Based on the results of formal quantitative research, trust and knowledge self-efficacy have the
strongest impact on the two central processes of knowledge sharing: knowledge donation and
collection. Some suggestions for telecommunications enterprises managers are given as follows:
For trust factors: building an open and comfortable working environment based on mutual trust and
consensus; strengthening collective activities, exchanging between employees, between departments;
building a teamwork model for each project; training awareness for employees about teamwork spirit,
mutual support in work. For knowledge self-efficacy: giving compliments to employees who contribute
their ideas; designing a software system that recognizes employee contributions to collective work and
regularly evaluates the effectiveness of those contributions to the organization's performance;
promoting training or building a learning organization to improve qualifications and expertise for
employees; designing or buying software that includes tests to examine professional knowledge related
to employees’ work. The results of qualitative and quantitative research show that knowledge sharing
consists of two central processes of knowledge donation and collection that are related to individuals'
innovative work behaviors. Therefore, managers need to make proposals to enhance knowledge sharing
to impact on innovative work behavior.
The results of interviews with telecommunication enterprises employees showed that some answers
directly addressed the behavior of innovation such as:
An employee with 6 - 10 years of experience answered: “If there is no measure, employees like me
always want to do it the old way, do not want to change or improve at work. In the business I am doing
a lot when it is difficult to give my opinion to senior leaders, so I think there must be appropriate
measures to change our way of thinking and how we have been doing for years”.
A manager with more than 15 years of experience answered: “I often use brainstorming methods for
employees to think and give ideas and suggestions at work. The important thing is how to apply the
ideas and suggestions of the employees, who will be the ones who do it because if not applied, all ideas
and suggestions will only be on paper forever”.
Therefore, the authors propose a number of suggestions for telecommunication enterprises managers
to influence the behavior of innovation of employees:
Firstly, applying Kaizen method in management. Managers encourage employees to come up with new
ideas and suggestions through suggestion boxes, software systems, social networks, etc., then
evaluating and choosing new ideas with feasible proposals to apply. Kaizen method could be
T. P. L. Nguyen et al. /Uncertain Supply Chain Management 7 (2019)
629
successfully implemented only when both Vietnamese executives and managers have innovative and
modern thinking ideas. Secondly, organizing seminars periodically with the participation of managers
and employees in each department. At the seminar, each employee must comment on his/her current
work and discuss plans, development strategies, work processes, new products/ services. After the
seminar, feasible ideas will be assigned to the proponent and some colleagues to implement. Thirdly,
taking the time and resources to test and implement new ideas. The work of Vietnamese telecom
enterprise employees mostly has to run according to the set plan and schedule, so in many cases they
are forced to use traditional methods to deploy. New ideas when applied are not always successful right
from the first time, so managers need to build plans, assign tasks and spend time testing.
Acknowledgement
This research is funded by National Economics University, Hanoi, Vietnam.
References
Akhavan, P., Hosseini, S. M., Abbasi, M., & Manteghi, M. (2015). Knowledge-sharing determinants,
behaviors, and innovative work behaviors: an integrated theoretical view and empirical
examination. Aslib Journal of Information Management, 67(5), 562-591.
Akram, T., Lei, S., Haider, M. J., & Hussain, S. T. (2018). Exploring the impact of knowledge sharing
on the innovative work behavior of employees: A study in China. International Business
Research, 11(3), 186-194.
Akram, T., Lei, S., Haider, M. J., Hussain, S. T., & Puig, L. C. M. (2017). The effect of organizational
justice on knowledge sharing: Empirical evidence from the Chinese telecommunications
sector. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 2(3), 134-145.
Al-Qadhi, Y. H., Md Nor, K., Ologbo, A. C., & Knight, M. B. (2015). Knowledge sharing in a multi-
nationality workforce: Examining the factors that influence knowledge sharing among employees
of diverse nationalities. Human Systems Management, 34(3), 149-165.
Åmo, B. W., & Kolvereid, L. (2005). Organizational strategy, individual personality and innovation
behavior. Journal of Enterprising Culture, 13(01), 7-19.
Ardichvili, A., Page, V., & Wentling, T. (2003). Motivation and barriers to participation in virtual
knowledge-sharing communities of practice. Journal of Knowledge Management, 7(1), 64-77.
Bandura, A. (1989). Regulation of cognitive processes through perceived self-efficacy. Developmental
Psychology, 25(5), 729.
Bentler, P. M., & Bonett, D. G. (1980). Significance tests and goodness of fit in the analysis of
covariance structures. Psychological Bulletin, 88(3), 588.
Binsawad, M., Sohaib, O., & Hawryszkiewycz, I. (2017). Knowledge-Sharing in Technology Business
Incubator.
Blau, P. M. (1964). Exchange and power in social life. New Brunswick.
Bock, G. W., Zmud, R. W., Kim, Y. G., & Lee, J. N. (2005). Behavioral intention formation in
knowledge sharing: Examining the roles of extrinsic motivators, social-psychological factors, and
organizational climate. MIS Quarterly, 29(1), 87-111.
Bos-Nehles, A., Renkema, M., & Janssen, M. (2017). HRM and innovative work behaviour: A
systematic literature review. Personnel Review, 46(7), 1228-1253.
Burke, M. E. (2011). Knowledge sharing in emerging economies. Library Review, 60(1), 5-14.
Bysted, R. (2013). Innovative employee behaviour: the moderating effects of mental involvement and
job satisfaction on contextual variables. European Journal of Innovation Management, 16(3), 268-
284.
Coakes, E. (2006). Storing and sharing knowledge: Supporting the management of knowledge made
explicit in transnational organizations. The Learning Organization, 13(6), 579-593.
Constant, D., Kiesler, S., & Sproull, L. (1994). What's mine is ours, or is it? A study of attitudes about
information sharing. Information Systems Research, 5(4), 400-421.
630
Costa, A. C., Roe, R. A., & Taillieu, T. (2001). Trust within teams: The relation with performance
effectiveness. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 10(3), 225-244.
Currie, G., & Kerrin, M. (2003). Human resource management and knowledge management: enhancing
knowledge sharing in a pharmaceutical company. The International Journal of Human Resource
Management, 14(6), 1027-1045.
Davenport, T. H., & Prusak, L. (1998). Working knowledge: How organizations manage what they
know. Harvard Business Press.
De Vries, R. E., Van den Hooff, B., & de Ridder, J. A. (2006). Explaining knowledge sharing: The role
of team communication styles, job satisfaction, and performance beliefs. Communication
Research, 33(2), 115-135.
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2008). Self-determination theory: A macrotheory of human motivation,
development, and health. Canadian psychology/Psychologie canadienne, 49(3), 182.
Dyer, J. H., & Singh, H. (1998). The relational view: Cooperative strategy and sources of
interorganizational competitive advantage. Academy of Management Review, 23(4), 660-679.
Ford, D. P., & Chan, Y. E. (2003). Knowledge sharing in a multi-cultural setting: a case
study. Knowledge Management Research & Practice, 1(1), 11-27.
Hair, J. F., Anderson, R. E., Babin, B. J., & Black, W. C. (2010). Multivariate data analysis: A global
perspective (Vol. 7).
Han, B. M., & Anantatmula, V. S. (2007). Knowledge sharing in large IT organizations: a case
study. Vine, 37(4), 421-439.
Hendriks, P. (1999). Why share knowledge? The influence of ICT on the motivation for knowledge
sharing. Knowledge and Process Management, 6(2), 91-100.
Ho, L. A., Kuo, T. H., & Lin, B. (2012). How social identification and trust influence organizational
online knowledge sharing. Internet Research, 22(1), 4-28.
Homans, G. C. (1958). Social behavior as exchange. American Journal of Sociology, 63(6), 597-606.
Huang, Q., Davison, R. M., & Gu, J. (2008). Impact of personal and cultural factors on knowledge
sharing in China. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 25(3), 451-471.
Islam, S., Zeisel, A., Joost, S., La Manno, G., Zajac, P., Kasper, M., ... & Linnarsson, S. (2014).
Quantitative single-cell RNA-seq with unique molecular identifiers. Nature Methods, 11(2), 163.
Ismail, M. B., & Yusof, Z. M. (2010). The impact of individual factors on knowledge sharing
quality. Journal of Organizational Knowledge Management, 13, 1-12
Jaberi, E. (2016). The effect of knowledge sharing on innovative behavior among employee of Besat
hospital in city of Hamedan. International Academic Journal of Accounting and Financial
Management, 3(4), 41-47.
Janssen, O. (2000). Job demands, perceptions of effort‐reward fairness and innovative work
behaviour. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 73(3), 287-302.
Jones, P., & Jordan, J. (1998). Knowledge orientations and team effectiveness. International Journal
of Technology Management, 16(1-3), 152-161.
Kanaan, R., & Gharibeh, A. A. H. (2013). The impact of knowledge sharing enablers on knowledge
sharing capability: An empirical study on Jordanian telecommunication firms. European Scientific
Journal, ESJ, 9(22).
Kankanhalli, A., Tan, B. C., & Wei, K. K. (2005). Contributing knowledge to electronic knowledge
repositories: An empirical investigation. MIS quarterly, 29(1).
Lee, M. K., Cheung, C. M., Lim, K. H., & Ling Sia, C. (2006). Understanding customer knowledge
sharing in web-based discussion boards: An exploratory study. Internet Research, 16(3), 289-303.
Lee, P., Gillespie, N., Mann, L., & Wearing, A. (2010). Leadership and trust: Their effect on knowledge
sharing and team performance. Management learning, 41(4), 473-491.
Liebowitz, J., & Yan, C. (2004). Knowledge sharing proficiencies: the key to knowledge management.
In Handbook on Knowledge Management 1 (pp. 409-424). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
Lin, H. F. (2007). Effects of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation on employee knowledge sharing
intentions. Journal of Information Science, 33(2), 135-149.
Luthans, F. (2002). Positive organizational behavior: Developing and managing psychological
strengths. Academy of Management Perspectives, 16(1), 57-72.
T. P. L. Nguyen et al. /Uncertain Supply Chain Management 7 (2019)
631
Ma Prieto, I., & Pilar Pérez-Santana, M. (2014). Managing innovative work behavior: the role of human
resource practices. Personnel Review, 43(2), 184-208.
Mura, M., Lettieri, E., Radaelli, G., & Spiller, N. (2013). Promoting professionals' innovative behaviour
through knowledge sharing: the moderating role of social capital. Journal of Knowledge
Management, 17(4), 527-544.
Nassuora, A. B. (2011). Knowledge sharing in institutions of higher learning. American Academic &
Scholarly Research Journal, 1(1), 29-34.
Nonaka, I., & Takeuchi, H. (1995). The knowledge-creating company: How Japanese companies
create the dynamics of innovation. Oxford university press.
Nunnally, J. C., & Bernstein, I. H. (1994). Psychological theory. New York, NY: MacGraw-Hill, 131-
147.
Okyere-Kwakye, E., Nor, K. M., & Ologbo, A. (2012). Factors that impel individuals’ to share
knowledge. In Knowledge Management International Conference (KMICe) (Vol. 2012, pp. 4-6).
Olatokun, W., & Nwafor, C. I. (2012). The effect of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation on knowledge
sharing intentions of civil servants in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Information Development, 28(3), 216-
234.
Oldenkamp, J. H. (2001, November). Limitations of managing knowledge sharing. In Proceedings of
the Second European Conference on Knowledge Management, Bled, Slovenia (pp. 411-418).
Osterloh, M., & Frey, B. S. (2000). Motivation, knowledge transfer, and organizational
forms. Organization science, 11(5), 538-550.
Phung, V. D., Hawryszkiewycz, I., Chandran, D., & Ha, B. M. (2017, December). Knowledge sharing
and innovative work behaviour: A case study from Vietnam. In Australasian Conference on
Information Systems.
Podrug, N., Filipović, D., & Kovač, M. (2017). Knowledge sharing and firm innovation capability in
Croatian ICT companies. International Journal of Manpower, 38(4), 632-644.
Radaelli, G., Lettieri, E., Mura, M., & Spiller, N. (2014). Knowledge sharing and innovative work
behaviour in healthcare: A micro‐level investigation of direct and indirect effects. Creativity and
Innovation Management, 23(4), 400-414.
Riege, A. (2005). Three-dozen knowledge-sharing barriers managers must consider. Journal of
Knowledge Management, 9(3), 18-35.
Rusly, F., Yih-Tong Sun, P., & L. Corner, J. (2014). The impact of change readiness on the knowledge
sharing process for professional service firms. Journal of Knowledge Management, 18(4), 687-709.
Scott, S. G., & Bruce, R. A. (1994). Determinants of innovative behavior: A path model of individual
innovation in the workplace. Academy of Management Journal, 37(3), 580-607.
Seba, I., Rowley, J., & Lambert, S. (2012). Factors affecting attitudes and intentions towards knowledge
sharing in the Dubai Police Force. International Journal of Information Management, 32(4), 372-
380.
Shin, S. K., Ishman, M., & Sanders, G. L. (2007). An empirical investigation of socio-cultural factors
of information sharing in China. Information & Management, 44(2), 165-174.
Sliat, R. K., & Alnsour, M. S. (2013). Business Innovation through knowledge sharing: An applied
study on the Jordanian Mobile Telecommunications Sector. European Journal of Business and
Management, 5(18), 8-17.
Smith, H. A., & McKeen, J. D. (2003). Instilling a knowledge-sharing culture. Queen’s Centre for
Knowledge-Based Enterprises, 20(1), 1-17.
Steenkamp, J. B. E., & Van Trijp, H. C. (1991). The use of LISREL in validating marketing
constructs. International Journal of Research in Marketing, 8(4), 283-299.
Steiger, J. H. (1990). Structural model evaluation and modification: An interval estimation
approach. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 25(2), 173-180.
Tan, H. H., & Zhao, B. (2003). Individual-and perceived contextual-level antecedents of individual
technical information inquiry in organizations. The Journal of Psychology, 137(6), 597-621.
Teece, D. J. (1998). Capturing value from knowledge assets: The new economy, markets for know-
how, and intangible assets. California Management Review, 40(3), 55-79.
632
Thọ, N. Đ., & Trang, N. T. M. (2008). Nghiên cứu khoa học Marketing-Ứng dụng mô hình cấu trúc
tuyến tính SEM. NXB Đại học quốc gia thành phố Hồ Chí Minh.
Turgut, E., & Beğenirbaş, M. (2013). Çalışanların yenilikçi davranışları üzerinde sosyal sermaye ve
yenilikçi iklimin rolü: Sağlık sektöründe bir araştırma. Kara Harp Okulu Bilim Dergisi, 23(2), 101-
124.
Van Den Hooff, B., & De Ridder, J. A. (2004). Knowledge sharing in context: the influence of
organizational commitment, communication climate and CMC use on knowledge sharing. Journal
of Knowledge Management, 8(6), 117-130.
Van der Rijt, P. G. A. (2002). Precious Knowledge. Amsterdam: The Amsterdam School of
Communications Research.
Vithessonthi, C. (2008). Social interaction and knowledge sharing behaviors in multinational
corporations. The Business Review, 10(2), 324-331.
Xue, Y., Bradley, J., & Liang, H. (2011). Team climate, empowering leadership, and knowledge
sharing. Journal of Knowledge Management, 15(2), 299-312.
Wasko, M. M., & Faraj, S. (2005). Why should I share? Examining social capital and knowledge
contribution in electronic networks of practice. MIS Quarterly, 29(1), 35-57.
Weggeman, M. C. D. P. (2000). Kennismanagement: de praktijk. Scriptum Management.
Wickramasinghe, V., & Widyaratne, R. (2012). Effects of interpersonal trust, team leader support,
rewards, and knowledge sharing mechanisms on knowledge sharing in project teams. Vine, 42(2),
214-236.
Wu, W. L., Lin, C. H., Hsu, B. F., & Yeh, R. S. (2009). Interpersonal trust and knowledge sharing:
Moderating effects of individual altruism and a social interaction environment. Social Behavior and
Personality: An International Journal, 37(1), 83-93.
Zárraga, C., & Bonache, J. (2003). Assessing the team environment for knowledge sharing: an
empirical analysis. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 14(7), 1227-1245.
Zawawi, A. A., Zakaria, Z., Kamarunzaman, N. Z., Noordin, N., Sawal, M. Z. H. M., Junos, N. M., &
Najid, N. S. A. (2011). The study of barrier factors in knowledge sharing: A case study in public
university. Management Science and Engineering, 5(1), 59.
Zhao, H., & Luo, Y. (2005). Antecedents of knowledge sharing with peer subsidiaries in other
countries: A perspective from subsidiary managers in a foreign emerging market. Management
International Review, 45(1), 71.
Zhang, P., & Fai Ng, F. (2012). Attitude toward knowledge sharing in construction teams. Industrial
Management & Data Systems, 112(9), 1326-1347.
T. P. L. Nguyen et al. /Uncertain Supply Chain Management 7 (2019)
633
Appendix 1
Factors Symbols Items
Trust (Tru)
Tru1 My colleagues will not take advantage of me on the knowledge that I share with them.
Tru2 I am sure that the knowledge I share with my colleagues will not be manipulated.
Tru3 My colleagues are truthful in sharing knowledge with me.
Tru4 My colleagues are responsible and dependable in sharing knowledge with me.
Tru5 I believe that my colleagues will not use the knowledge I share with them against me.
Enjoyment in
helping others (En)
En1 I enjoy sharing my knowledge with colleagues
En2 I enjoy helping colleagues by sharing my knowledge
En3 It feels good to help someone by sharing my knowledge
En4 Sharing my knowledge with colleagues is pleasurable
Knowledge self-
efficacy (Se)
Se1 My knowledge sharing would help other members in the organization to solve their problems
Se2 My knowledge sharing would create new business opportunities for the organization
Se3 My knowledge sharing would improve work process in the organization
Se4 My knowledge sharing would increase productively in the organization
Se5 My knowledge sharing would help the organization achieve its performance objectives
Management support
(Ma)
Ma1 Managers think that encouraging knowledge sharing with colleagues is beneficial
Ma2 Managers always support and encourage employees to share their knowledge with colleagues
Ma3 Managers provide most of the necessary help and resources to enable employees to share knowledge
Ma4 Managers are keen to see that the employees are happy to share their knowledge with colleagues
Ma5 I was acknowledged by the manager when sharing knowledge and ideas with colleagues
Using information
and communication
technology (Te)
Te1 Our organization introduces new technology platforms that enable knowledge sharing for more effective operations
Te2 Our organization has expertise in the usage and maintenance of critical information infrastructure, e.g. intranet, extranet, groupware
Te3 Our information systems infrastructure is updated regularly to facilitate effective knowledge sharing and creation
Te4 Social network systems enable the search and sharing of ideas and information within the organization and with our stakeholders
Te5 Our groupware systems enable knowledge sharing among employees
Te6 Our intranet systems enable the sharing of ideas and critical documents
Knowledge donation
(Do)
Do1 When I learn something new, I tell my colleagues about it
Do2 I share the knowledge I have, with my colleagues
Do3 I think it is important that my colleagues know what I am doing
Do4 I regularly tell my colleagues what I am doing
Knowledge
collection (Co)
Co1 When I need certain knowledge, I ask my colleagues about it
Co2 I like to be informed of what my colleagues know
Co3 I ask my colleagues about their abilities when I need to learn something
Co4 When one of my colleagues is good at something I ask him/her to teach me how to do that thing
Innovative work
behavior (IN01)
In1 I create new ideas for improvements
In2 I often search out new working methods, techniques, or instruments
In3 My ideas generate original solutions to problems
In4 I work actively to test new ideas
634
Appendix 2
Factor Item Factor loading Cronbach’s Alpha
Trust (Tru)
Tru1 0.697
0.882 Tru2 0.868 Tru3 0.794
Tru4 0.861
Enjoyment in helping
others (En)
En1 0.796
0.885 En2 0.915 En3 0.717
En4 0.864
Knowledge self-efficacy
(Se)
Se1 0.735
0.837 Se2 0.813 Se3 0.775
Se4 0.683
Management support (Ma)
Ma1 0.742
0.781 Ma2 0.643 Ma3 0.777
Ma5 0.581
Using information and
communication technology
(Te)
Te1 0.993
0.842
Te2 0.973
Te3 0.956
Te4 0.933
Te5 0.937
Te6 0.989
Knowledge donation (Do)
Do1 0.939
0.790 Do2 0.918 Do3 0.946
Do4 0.933
Knowledge collection (Co)
Co1 0.648
0.809 Co2 0.944 Co3 0.713
Co4 0.581
Innovative work behavior
(IN01)
In1 0.696
0.808 In2 0.757 In3 0.737
In4 0.691
© 2019 by the authors; licensee Growing Science, Canada. This is an open access article
distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY)
license (
Các file đính kèm theo tài liệu này:
knowledge_sharing_and_innovative_work_behavior_the_case_of_v.pdf