The Important of Online Knowledge Sharing

In knowledge era now, technology development and easy access of information give added value for both nonprofit and profit organizations to manage the knowledge. One of important components in managing knowledge is knowledge sharing. Knowledge sharing can be happen between individual or group, which is information can be spread, discuss, and refined that become one general knowledge for those group.

In education industry, Knowledge sharing can be done by students and lecturers in teaching and learning session that can improve learning process and help to create knowledge worker. But in terms of benefit from knowledge sharing, knowledge sharing is not an easy job. Need more time for individual for gather, cooperate, share, and create new knowledge. Related with knowledge sharing, learning method that implemented by higher education is blended learming. Blended learning combines online learning and traditional learning in the classroom. The maximum use of e-learning can support collaboration between lecturers and students, support knowledge sharing by using discussion forum in Learning Management Systems (LMS). By using blended learning, there are a lot of potention that we can get. Beside support combination of face to face learning with online learning, blended learning also create blended environments, which is face to face and online learning between large group with small group, self learning, individual communication between lecturer and students.

So, blended environment can be perfect place to implement knowledge management systems, which is can be ask people to share their knowledge online and also directly between students and lecturers. Knowledge sharing is also one of important factor that must being managed in higher education that can make learning process more interactive. In this era, when communities already familiar to use technology, knowledge sharing can be done by using online media, such as LMS, Mobile Learning, knowledge Management Systems, or social media. There are several benefits from online knowledge sharing as follows :

1. Knowledge sharing speeds up response times

If you know who to go to within an organization, you don’t waste time searching for the right person and speed up the flow of information upstream, downstream and across stream.

2. Knowledge sharing increases efficiency

It can be so frustrating to have worked on something that was already created by another department or team. Much better to avoid re-inventing the wheel by sharing the knowledge upfront.

3. Knowledge sharing increases creativity and innovation

A more informed workforce increases social interaction which has a positive effect on creativity and ideation which can also create a competitive advantage.

4. Knowledge sharing leads to better decision making

Faster access to more knowledge experts means that the right people are involved in the discussion or brought to a community from the outset. Transparency creates trust, especially for dispersed teams.

5. Knowledge sharing preserves existing knowledge

There is a lot of tacit knowledge within organizations. Social technologies like Fuse allow that knowledge to be extrapolated.

6. Knowledge sharing empowers employees by increasing their commitment and giving them a voice

Those who may not have the opportunity to contribute in a traditional hierarchical organization are given a voice through social technologies, which helps them to make social interactions that they may never have made before. Through social learning, they get immediate feedback and feel like they have a voice which is heard throughout all echelons of the organization.

7. Knowledge sharing can provide a health check on the organization

When staff share knowledge openly, senior management can get a much better understanding of staff morale and can act much more quickly with interventions, which again reiterates the point above related to staff feeling committed and that they have a voice.

References :

1. Ghadirian, H., Ayub, A. F., Silong, A. D., Bakar, K. B., Mohammad, A., & Zadeh, H. (2014). Knowledge Sharing Behavior among Students in Learning Environments: A Review of Literature. Asian Social Science , Vol. 10 No. 4.
2. Ong, H.-B., Yeap, P.-F., Tan, S.-H., & Chong, L.-L. (2011). Factors Influencing Knowledge Sharing among Undergraduate Students: A Malaysian Perspective. Industry and Higher Education Journal , 133-140.
3. Mallasi, H., & Ainin, S. (2015). Investigating Knowledge Sharing Behaviour in Academic Environment. Journal of Organizational Knowledge Management .
4. Paulin, D., & Suneson, K. (2012). Knowledge Transfer, Knowledge Sharing and Knowledge Barrier – Three Blurry Terms in KM. The Electronic Journal of Knowledge Management , 81-91
5. Bourke, D. B. (2010). Getting Started with Blended Learning. Gold Coast , Australia: Griffith University.
6. http://www.fuseuniversal.com/7-advantages-knowledge-sharing-organisations