Identification of Common and Specific Factors Influencing Knowledge Sharing in Professional Environments (Healthcare, Financial and Accounting, Educational and Research, and Industrial)
Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Ph.D. student of Management – Department of Management, Faculty of Management and Accounting, Qazvin Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.
2 2. Assistant Professor, Department of Management, Faculty of Humanities, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
10.22098/pbeo.2026.18839.1073
Abstract
Background and Aim: : Human behavior within organizations is highly complex, being influenced by numerous factors such as managerial actions, the competitive environment, and job conditions. The occurrence of knowledge-sharing behavior is no exception, as individuals’ behavioral intentions are modified by various factors. The primary objective of this research is to identify the common and specific factors influencing knowledge sharing across four distinct occupational environments: healthcare, finance and accounting, education and research, and industrial settings.
Methods: This study was conducted using a qualitative content analysis approach on existing literature. The statistical population comprised various domestic and international scholarly articles published from 2005 CE (1390 SH) onward concerning knowledge sharing. A final selection of 65 articles that directly investigated the subject of knowledge sharing within occupational environments were subjected to the analysis process. To enhance the validity (reliability) and trustworthiness (dependability) of the qualitative analysis, codes were repeatedly reviewed. Furthermore, the extracted categories were compared against established theoretical foundations and recognized models in the field of knowledge sharing to examine their conceptual coherence.
Results: The review revealed that 94 variables influence knowledge sharing: 14 common variables observed across all environments, 17 variables reported in two or three environments, and 63 variables specific to each environment.
Conclusion: The results indicate that knowledge sharing varies depending on the type of activity and organizational goals, being affected by both common and specific factors. While certain factors, such as organizational culture, play a role in all organizations, others are contingent upon the job characteristics and specialized conditions of the workplace. For instance, evidence-based collaboration in healthcare centers or patent registration in industrial settings are considered specific factors. Therefore, improving knowledge sharing necessitates identifying the unique conditions of each occupational environment and incorporating them into organizational planning.
Methods: This study was conducted using a qualitative content analysis approach on existing literature. The statistical population comprised various domestic and international scholarly articles published from 2005 CE (1390 SH) onward concerning knowledge sharing. A final selection of 65 articles that directly investigated the subject of knowledge sharing within occupational environments were subjected to the analysis process. To enhance the validity (reliability) and trustworthiness (dependability) of the qualitative analysis, codes were repeatedly reviewed. Furthermore, the extracted categories were compared against established theoretical foundations and recognized models in the field of knowledge sharing to examine their conceptual coherence.
Results: The review revealed that 94 variables influence knowledge sharing: 14 common variables observed across all environments, 17 variables reported in two or three environments, and 63 variables specific to each environment.
Conclusion: The results indicate that knowledge sharing varies depending on the type of activity and organizational goals, being affected by both common and specific factors. While certain factors, such as organizational culture, play a role in all organizations, others are contingent upon the job characteristics and specialized conditions of the workplace. For instance, evidence-based collaboration in healthcare centers or patent registration in industrial settings are considered specific factors. Therefore, improving knowledge sharing necessitates identifying the unique conditions of each occupational environment and incorporating them into organizational planning.
Keywords
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