Abstract:

The primary aim with this study was to study the impact of digitalization on knowledge management in an organization. A secondary aim was to further develop knowledge management models to also include collaborative knowledge production and expertise sharing. Finally, we also wanted to develop instruments for measuring the degree of digitalization individually and in an organization.

Knowledge management is a multidisciplinary field with the ambition to optimize the use of knowledge in an organization. Two of the most dominant contributors to the field are business administration and information systems. Frequently used models for studying knowledge management includes the concepts of sharing knowledge to others, i.e. “donating” and to use others knowledge “collecting”. Factors for predicting intention and behavior of knowledge sharing is founded in models based on theory of planned behavior or theory of reasoned action. Previous research in this field shows interesting results that the use of information and communication technology could have an impact on knowledge management.

There is however some criticism regarding the models used in this research. These models are rather technology deterministic treating “knowledge” as something externalized and explicit that can be transferred, donated and collected. The fact that knowledge and work are closely intertwined and that social relationships is an important ingredient is not taken account to in these models. Furthermore, the items in questionnaires addressing information and communication technology issues are often very general and unspecific. Digital competence in terms of technological skills doesn’t imply competence in terms of how information and communication technology may be used for knowledge sharing and learning. In this study we wanted to broaden the concept of knowledge management to also include the processes when experts are working together with a problem and when expertise is shared, and knowledge is continuously under development rather than being externalized a priori. Thus, existing concepts for “donating” and “collecting” knowledge were accompanied with questions related to collaboration. We also developed instruments for measuring degree of digitalization. The intention to use information and communication technology for knowledge management purposes was included in a model inspired by technology acceptance models, which originally also are founded in theory of planned behavior and reasoned action.

The study is based on a survey including 265 respondents. The primary hypotheses were:
• The degree of digitalization is related to the intention to share knowledge by using ICT
• The intention to share knowledge by using ICT is related to actual knowledge sharing

Keywords:

Degree of digitalization, WIL, knowledge management, expertise sharing.