Knowledge sharing is an activity through which knowledge (i.e. informationn, skills, or expertise) is exchanged among people, friends, or members of a family, a community or an organisation.
But it seems that the sharing of knowledge constitutes a major challenge in the field of knowledge management because some employees tend to resist sharing their knowledge with the other members of the organisation.
As the old saying goes, the knowledge shared with the right intent can do wonders for any person or organisation.
All those involved in knowledge sharing can benefit from such an effective sharing process.
We gather our knowledge on various subjects from experience and studying, and sometimes from our mistakes.
When that knowledge is shared, it will become easier for others to get the information faster.
The knowledge and expertise gathered from years of experience can be easily transmitted to the new generation, when it is effectively presented and communicated.
One prominent obstacle is the notion that knowledge is property, and ownership thus becomes very important.
In order to counteract this, individuals must be reassured that they will receive some type of incentive for what they create.
Here knowledge sharing assumes an important role in social development.
However, Dalkir (2005) identified the risk in knowledge sharing is that individuals are most commonly rewarded for what they know, not what they share.
If knowledge is not shared, negative consequences such as isolation and resistance to ideas occur.
To promote knowledge sharing and remove knowledge sharing obstacles, the organizational culture should encourage discovery and innovation.
"In today's environment, hoarding knowledge ultimately erodes your power. If you know something very important, the way to get power is by actually sharing it."
Joseph Badaracco
