Factors affecting knowledge sharing behavior of undergraduate students in higher institution in Thailand : Theory of planned behavior.

Abstract

This paper examines the factors that can influence knowledge sharing behaviors of undergraduate students in Thailand taking the sample from Mahidol University. This study uses theory of planned behavior (TPB) as a framework of the study. Besides studying the determinants that can affect the knowledge sharing behavior, this paper also focuses on the casual effect between determinants following TPB framework by using path analysis to confirm the c.asuai effects. 400 questionnaires were collected among Mahidoi University undergraduate students. The data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS programs. Reliability and validity tests were conducted to test all of the constructs before proceed to path analysis. The findings of the paper show that determinants such as interpersonal trust, enjoyment in helping others, organizational climate, attitude toward knowledge sharing, subjective norm, intention to sharing knowledge, ICT, and collaborative learning can eventually lead to behavioral action which is to share knowledge with others as TPB describes. The management of the university can promote the knowledge sharing among undergraduate students by understand the causal effects and motivators suggested in this research. This paper is among the first to examine the factors that affect knowledge sharing behavior and its pattern among undergraduate students in Thailand. Moreover, this paper is also the first one to include collaborative leaning as a determinant that has impact on knowledge sharing behavior of undergraduate students; however, this paper is a quantitative research which can only explain the causal relationship but cannot explain the insightful information or reasons why the linkages have occurred.