PERCEIVED TRAINING
INTENSITY AND KNOWLEDGE
SHARING: SHARING FOR
INTRINSIC AND PROSOCIAL
REASONS
BÅRD KUVAAS, ROBERT BUCH, AND
ANDERS DYSVIK
This study investigated the relationship between perceived training intensity
and knowledge sharing, including the moderating roles of intrinsic motiva-
tion and social and economic exchange perceptions. Data from 310 employ-
ees working in three organizations located in Norway revealed a positive re-
lationship between perceived training intensity and knowledge sharing for
employees with low levels of intrinsic motivation and economic exchange
perception, and high levels of social exchange perception. These findings
suggest that perceived training intensity increases knowledge sharing only
under specific motivational influences. Implications for practice and direc-
tions for future research are discussed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc
Keywords: knowledge management, motivation, training and development
Introduction
A
recent review of the knowledge-
sharing literature reveals that
knowledge sharing and combina-
tion is associated with productivity
and performance at the team and
organizational levels of analysis (Wang &
Noe, 2010). Furthermore, knowledge sharing,
or the provision of task information and
know-how to help others and to collaborate
with others to solve problems, develop new
ideas, or implement policies and procedures
(Wang & Noe, 2010), is increasingly recog-
nized as a source of competitive advantage
(Grant, 1996; Riege, 2005) and innovative-
ness (van Wijk, Jansen, & Lyles, 2008).
Human resource (HR) practices can play a
vital role in assisting knowledge sharing
in organizations (Mäkelä & Brewster, 2009).
Empirical research suggests that collective
pay for performance (e.g., Ferrin & Dirks,
2003; Quigley, Tesluk, Locke, & Bartol, 2007;
Correspondence to: Robert Buch, BI Norwegian Business School, Department of Leadership and Organizational
Behaviour, Nydalsveien 37 Oslo 0484, Norway, E-mail: robert.buch@bi.no
Human Resource Management, Human Resource Management, March–April 2012, Vol. 51, No. 2. Pp. 167–188
© 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com).
DOI:10.1002/hrm.21464