This document provides a review and critique of a research paper titled "Attitude Towards Knowledge Sharing Behavior". The review summarizes the original paper, identifies strengths such as its clear organization and statistical validity, and notes weaknesses such as limited sample and variables. The review also critiques definitions, methodology, results interpretation and implications. Overall it finds the paper interesting but in need of further research to address limitations and expand understanding of knowledge sharing behaviors.

1. ATTITUDE TOWARDS KNOWLEDGE SHARING BEHAVIOR
A CRITICAL REVIEW
Lenny Martini – 29006014
19 Desember 2006

2. Agenda
• Overview of the Paper
• Organization
• Scope of Review
• Overall strengths and weaknesses
• Reviews
- Definitions and Construct
- Methodology
- Interpretation of Result
- Implication of Research
• Proposed Ideas
• Conclusion

3. Overview of the Paper1
Title of the Paper
“ Attitude Towards Knowledge Sharing Behavior”
Writers
•Sai Ho Kwok – California State University, Long Beach, California
•Sheng Gao – The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Kowloon
Source
The Journal of Computer Information Systems; Winter 2005/2006; pg.45-51
Objectives of the Study
Focused on an individual’s behavior of knowledge sharing with respect to information
systems/ information technology (IS/IT) by investigating their attitude towards knowledge
sharing.
Variables
3 variables (extrinsic motivation, absorptive capacity & channel richness)
were examined as influential factors affecting people’s attitude towards
knowledge sharing.

4. Hypotheses
1. Extrinsic motivation will NOT positively influence an individual’s attitude toward the
behavior of knowledge sharing.
2. Absorptive capacity will positively influence an individual’s attitude toward the
behavior of knowledge sharing.
3. Channel richness will positively influence an individual’s attitude toward the behavior
of knowledge sharing
Methodology
• Structural survey to 75 undergraduate students of the information systems department
• 3 measures for each construct = 12 questions
• Reliability with alpha cronbach >.70
• Convergent & discriminant validity with principal factor analysis indicated satisfactory
levels of convergent and discriminant validity
• Data analysis with multiple regression. Overall model is significant
Overview of the Paper2

5. Findings
• Link between Extrinsic motivation and attitude toward the behavior of knowledge
sharing is not statistically significant.
(no effect or, if any, the effect should be negative)
• Link between absorptive capacity and channel richness with and attitude toward the
behavior of knowledge sharing are positive and statistically significant.
Conclusion
• Since knowledge sharing is an activity that requires much mutual trust and influence
people, the spring of the willingness to share knowledge is far away from taking
rewards or avoiding punishment, but might be stemming from altruism and goodwill or
simply out of personal interest.
• A higher level of absorptive capacity will lead to an individual’s more favorable
attitude toward knowledge sharing.
• People would hold favorable attitude toward knowledge sharing behaviors if they feel
convenient and flexible in time and place to engage in such activities.
Overview of the Paper3

6. Organization
Abstract
- Purpose of the study
- Methodology
- Result
- Keywords
Introduction
- Previous research
- Organization of the paper
Theoretical Development and Hypotheses
- 3 hypotheses
Methodology
- Data collection
- Measurement
- Attitude
- Validity Assessment
- Data Analysis
Discussion and Conclusion
- Conclusion of the Results
- Implications
- Limitations of study

7. Scope of Review
Review on Definitions and Construct
Some of the definitions given in this paper were interpreted by the writer’s own
meaning. Consideration of misinterpretation could lead to some flaws in composing
measures and analyzing the result.
Review on Methodology
Sampling and methodology used in the paper are very important in determine
validation of the result and usefulness for further research and other field.
Review on Interpretation of Result
Even if the methodology was good, but the way the writers interpreted the result
could also lead the readers to different conclusion.
Review on Implication of Research
Due to some limitations of sampling and methodology and also construct used in the
research, the implications of this research for academic research and
manangement profesionals are also limited.

8. Strength
• The overall organization of the written paper was good.
• The statements were clearly defined, table of result and form of questionnaire were
showed, made it easier for the readers to understand the paper.
• The writers stated the limitation of the research.
• Theoretical foundation used in this research were adopted from many good sources
that had already used as reference to other papers.
• Quantitative measurement was simple, good, reliable and statistically valid.
• The result are consistent with the psychological theories
• Inspired to study the effect of the variables in other fields, with other samples, and
also lead to further research with other potential variables.
Overall Strength

9. Weaknesses
• The title was wider than the research. There were only 3 variables investigated in this
research and limited to information system/information technology.
• The writers used their own interpretation of some definition.
• The models and equations was not showed in the paper
• Sample used in this research limited the usefullness of the result. Even if the statistical
measurement were good, but limited sample could lead to irrelevant questions.
• Some inconsistencies in statements about the variables.
• Some misinterpretation of result lead to weak suggestions for management practices.
Overall Weaknesses

10. Review on Definitions & Construct1
• Theoretical foundation used in this research to define the constructs were adopted
from many good sources that had already used as reference to other papers, but the
writers tend to interpret it themselves and made their own definitions that could lead
to misinterpretation by the other readers.
• Theory of Reasoned Action by Ajzen & Fishbein (1980) : an individuals intention to
perform a behavior and their actual behavior can be determined by their attitude
toward this behavior is a good foundation for this study. A person’s attitude toward a
behavior is determined by saleint beliefs about certain outcomes caused by the
behaviors and corresponding evaluation of the outcomes. The papers stated the salient
beliefs : “I can learn new knowledge effectively through knowledge sharing”, “I can
find out the knowledge I need efficiently through knowledge sharing” and “I can get
reward by sharing knowledge” which support the extrinsic motivation and absorptive
capacity variables, but there is no statements of salient beliefs to support the channel
richness variables.

11. Review on Definitions & Construct2
• The definition of absorptive capacity used in the paper adopted from Cohen and
Levinthal (1990) which is the most widely cited definition viewed absorptive capacity
as the firm’s ability to value, assimilate and apply new knowledge. The writers
interpretation of this definition is absorptive capacity is a function of the richness ot
the pre-existing knowledge structure, and learning is greatest when
the object of learning is related with what is already known. These people
with larger absorptive capacity tend to have favorable attitudes toward
knowledge sharing behavior.
• But in Cohen & Levinthal papers, the definition is at the firm’s level, and there are
some stages needed to convert individual’s absorptive capacity to become firm’s
absorptive capacity. It would be better the writer include some theory of learnings or
knowledge to support the no 2 hypotheses. Principles of lerning from Keller &
Schoenfeld (1950) Knowledge creating theory from Nonaka & Takeuchi (1995) and
might be appropriate in this context.
• The other definitions from Kim (1998,1997) : absorptive capacity requires the capacity
to learn and solve problems might be better than the previous one, because of the its
relations with the wording in the questionnaire.

12. Review on Definitions & Construct3
• The papers did not investigate dimensions of absorptive capacity. Cohen&Levinthal
(1990) and Henard & McFadyen (2005) said that there are 2 dimensions of absorptive
capacity : the depth and the breadth, while Zahra&Gerard (2000) Suggest 4 dimensions
of absorptive capacity : acquisition, assimilation, conversion and exploitation
• The items measures construct channel richness are conveniently and flexibility. The
definition of the construct and the items were less relevant, thus can lead to
misinterpretation of the result. There are no explanation nor definition about criteria
of convenient and flexible channel, thus the answer can be very subjective, and there
were only 1 question containing the form of channel and stated as “multiple
channels”, without further explanations of the forms.
• Also the variable channel richness can be assumed as intervening or moderating
variables to conveniently and flexibility, but a further research needed
to explain this statements.

13. Review on Methodology
• The study was conducted in an undergraduate course with 75 students as respondents.
Schools are already a learning organization that without explanation will continually do
knowledge sharing in any means. The non-representative sample can be a threat to
external validity (Chevalier, 2003). And also It is predictable that the extrinsic
motivation (punishment, monetary rewards & reputation) will not significantly influent
the attitude towards knowledge sharing.
• The questionnaire was short enough, made it easier for the respondent to understand
and fill it. But with only 3 items to measures a construct it is vulnerable to get lost of a
construct if the reliability score of the items are bad.
• Fortunatelly, the reliability and validity were statistically good.
• The participants were made judgment about their own absorptive capacity. This can
lead to subjectiveness. Zahra & George (2000) proposed 2 types of absorptive
capacity : potential and realized absorptive capacity. The question and methods used
here tend to measures only the realized absorptive capacity.
• The wording of adopted questionnaires could be better adjusted to
get better perceptions of the respondents.

14. Review on Interpretation of Result
• This paper stated that providing an external incentive is not an effective strategy to
motivate individuals in an organization to share knowledge. But it is also stated that
with the existence of some barriers, it is hard for individuals to conduct knowledge
sharing activities during their work unless they find such activities adequately useful
and beneficial. The external incentive could be viewed as one of the benefit, so the
statements were contradictive.
• Statements about relationship between knowledge contributor and the recipient used in
this paper help to understand easier about the result of absorptive capacity variable.
• It is stated here that the richness of channel for knowledge sharing was mainly
measured from an individual’s perception, and the richness not only means the number
of sorts of available transmission channel but also their applicability with specific
settings. This statements cannot be obtained from the questionnaires answers because
there are no question related to applicability of certain channels.

15. Review on Implication of Research
• The paper did not stated direct suggestions for school whom the students play part as
respondent for this study.
• Among further researchs suggest by the writers are to study the effect of other
variables such as leadership style, organizational structure, or the level of computer
usage on knowledge sharing behavior
• The writers suggest that to reinforce the absorptive capacity, employees with close
knowledge base should be arranged to work together more frequently for knowledge
sharing. But according to Utterback (1971) and Cohen&Levinthal (1990) diverse
employee knowledge stimulates new ideas, promotes creativity and increases the
company’s knowledge integration skils. Also From Hamel&Prahalad (1994) it said that
by possessing a broad base of knowledge, the company has a diverse range of
knowledge to draw upon, thus better positioning its employees to make complex and
novel information linkages.
• The second implications is, more research should be conducted within the organization
to study the appropriate channels for knowledge sharing in specific settings and then
to maximize the utility of the channells to facilitate employees knowledge sharing
activities.

16. Proposed Ideas1
• Conceptual model for the paper and result of multiple regression analysis
Extrinsic motivation
Absorptive Capacity
Channel richness
Attitude toward knowledge
sharing behavior
-.117*
.450
.189
* = not significant
• Scope of Replication study
Knowledge sharing behavior
University/ schoolsBusiness Firms Other organizations
Student of
IS

17. Proposed Ideas2
• A replication study can be conducted in the same field (schools) and other fields with
adding more items to measure the constructs. The more items leads to a better scale,
More adequately represent the construct domain and provide a more consistent total
score. The Spearman-Brown Prophesy Formula can be used for this.
• The hypotheses (relationship between 3 variables and attitude toward
knowledge sharing behavior) can be used to conduct other research in broader field, such
as firms and enterprises to gain more usefull implications on business fields.
• As stated before, for construct absorptive capacity, we can investigate 2 dimensions of
it, the depth and breadth and other 4 dimensions (acqusition, assimilation, conversion and
exploitation)
• Barriers of effective knowledge sharing such as source reliability, motivation to share,
ability to learn (Szulanski, 1995) could be a better variable to be investigated in their
influence on knowledge sharing behaviors.
Further research

18. Proposed Ideas3
• The biggest difficulty of managing knowledge is to change people’s behavior (Ruggles,
1998). An exploratory descriptive study can be conducted to discover the effective ways
to change people’s behavior in respect to knowledge management using larger and
broader sample.
• Holtham& Courtney (1998) summarized 4 kinds of transmission channels (formal,
informal, personal and impersonal). As suggested by the writers, further research can be
conducted to study the appropriate channels for knowledge sharing in specific settings
and then to maximize the utility of the channells to facilitate employees knowledge
sharing activities.
Further research
Management Practices
• The importance of absorptive capacity and channel richness to influence attitude
toward knowledge sharing behavior can be seen as supporting argument to allocate more
resouce related with the variables. Such as, research labs & studios in university and
firms, conducting more seminars, routine brainstorming sessions or others form of
knowledge sharing channels

19. CONCLUSION
• The research can be categorized as confirmatory research to test hypotheses about
factors that influence attitude towards knowledge sharing behavior.
• The original contribution of the paper is conceptual model about 3 variables influenced
attitude toward knowledge sharing behavior : extrinsic motivation, absorptive capacity,
and channel richness, and also an empirical findings of the model tested in student of
information system course.
• Although there are few disagreements related to this paper, I sincerely feel that this
paper is interesting and inspires because of the led to many ideas of further research and
its implications on management practices.

20. Thank you..