A Comparison of Factors Influencing Knowledge Sharing through EKR among Sri Lankan and Singaporean Knowledge Workers

Abstract Knowledge sharing through Electronic Knowledge Repositories (EKR) is key to knowledge retention and reuse to ensure organisational success in a knowledge based economy. This paper attempts to make a comparison between two studies, conducted to identify the significant factors that influence knowledge sharing through EKR among Sri Lankan and Singaporean knowledge workers, in order to better understand how place and time of study, target survey group and technological progress influence knowledge sharing factors. Knowledge sharing behaviour is examined by using a model which employs the social exchange theory (SET) to identify cost and benefit factors affecting EKR usage, and social capital theory (SCT) to account for the moderating influence of contextual factors. Ten knowledge contribution hypotheses and six knowledge seeking hypotheses formulated based on the theoretical framework were compared. The comparison between the factors that influence knowledge sharing among Sri Lankan and Singaporean knowledge workers reveals that out of the ten knowledge contribution hypotheses studied, four hypotheses produced consistent results in both studies. Out of the six knowledge seeking hypotheses studied, four hypotheses produced consistent results in both studies. The comparison reveals that contextual factors such as place and time of study, target group influences knowledge sharing factors. A comparison of factors influencing knowledge sharing thorough EKR among Sri Lankan and Singaporean knowledge workers sheds light on the influence of culture, industry and passage of time on knowledge sharing through EKR. This will help better understand how place and time of study, target survey group and technological progress influence knowledge sharing through EKR.