Knowledge sharing among engineers: An empirical examination

Abstract

We study knowledge sharing among engineers to develop a nuanced understanding of the role of meaningful work and organizational identification by integrating the knowledge management framework, the job characteristics model and organizational identity theory. Using a cross-sectional survey of 168 engineers with managerial responsibilities from several industries in Colombia, we tested a structural equation model. Results show that a meaningful work is related with knowledge sharing, but is mediated by organizational identification. Furthermore, we found that the way to obtain knowledge donating is preceded by knowledge collecting. These associations provide insight into engineers' attitudes towards sharing knowledge as a way to differentiate profiles in the organizational environments and promote further research in this regard. Practical implications revolve around the justification for working on practices that not only foster meaningfulness in the workplace, but also organizational identification in order to obtain adequate levels of organizational knowledge sharing. Finally, since most studies have been carried out in developed countries, this study also contributes to a better understanding of the topic in previously unexplored contexts, in this case emerging economies.