www.theinternationaljournal.org > RJCBS: Volume: 02, Number: 02, December-2012 Page 14 Knowledge Sharing and Its Impact on Innovation Performance: A case study of Teaching Quality Assurance Program AbdulQadir R. A. Aljanabi Research Scholar, Othman Yeop Abdullah Graduate School of Business, Universiti Utara, Malaysia & Dr. Dileep Kumar M Professor, HRM/OB/ Strategic Management Othman Yeop Abdullah Graduate School of Business, Universiti Utara, Malaysia ABSTRACT This case study aims to examine the internal factors that contribute to successful Knowledge Sharing (KS) among the university teaching staff, employees and students towards achieving innovation performance. A review of literature has been presented that focuses on the KS and innovation performance. The debate is supported by a practical KS program called Teaching Quality Assurance. Finally, conclusions and discussions derived from both the literature review and the practical case have been submitted with suggestions for future research trends. Keywords: Knowledge, Knowledge sharing, Innovation performance, Teaching quality assurance INTRODUCTION Knowledge sharing (KS) is one of the main components in knowledge management process which rely heavily on social interaction between organization’s members to expand their own knowledge. On the other hand, the importance of this knowledge in providing new innovations is well known to everyone nowadays; since many organizations focus on their knowledge assets in its rival more than focusing on their financial or physical assets to produce new innovations. Within the domain of higher education; KS is considered as the building blocks of efficient performance at Universities and can play a key role in enhancing their innovation performance, by contrast the deficiency of knowledge sharing may result in reduce performance level and poor quality of education. This case study deals with the knowledge sharing various issues and the factors that affect it, in addition to the impact of knowledge sharing in innovation performance. The purpose of this study is to examine the factors and barriers that contribute to knowledge sharing process among teaching staff in public higher education in Iraq. Furthermore, a case study of Teaching Quality Assurance Program (TQAP) is presented to show the impact of knowledge sharing in innovation performance in University of Northern Iraq. In order to ensure the confidentiality, the name of University has changed, so that the information’s indicated do not affect the reputation of the University and academic staff, moreover, the same scenario can be tested with other University. The final section presents a discussion based on review and the case study will determine the core outcomes of this paper. UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IRAQ BACKGROUND University of Northern Iraq was first established in 1968, the main campus is located in the north region of Iraq. Due to the deteriorating political situation that followed the founding of the period; the University suffered a lot of deficiencies and neglect, affecting the level of performance and the quality of education. After stabilizing the security situation in the area and the advent of aware government to the importance of education, the University pays attention to those problems that are related directly to the real life of people & tries to find appropriate solution for them. It’s one of the important sources of knowledge for the society and developing the individuals. The University has deep relations with other universities, governmental and private organizations, by providing them with new knowledge through training courses, consulting and conferences. Annually hundreds of students enrolled to the University; new students are referred to the university from the Central Admission Bureau of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research; the students