A psychological empowerment approach to online knowledge sharing

The success of a knowledge management system (KMS) depends on knowledge sharing. Previous research has claimed that motivational factors can facilitate successful knowledge sharing as a proactive behavior. However, little research has examined what motivators lead to proactive knowledge sharing. By integrating a psychological empowerment perspective with job characteristics theory, this study examines the role of KMS user empowerment, as a specific type of psychological empowerment, in motivating this proactivity to explain employee knowledge-sharing behavior (i.e., contribution and seeking). The findings explain that KMS user empowerment is significantly associated with knowledge sharing, and the work environment (job significance, job autonomy, ease of KMS use, and KMS usefulness) enhances KMS user empowerment. This study contributes to KM research by introducing the concept of KMS user empowerment and demonstrating its role in regulating the proactive knowledge sharing. It also helps managers to promote knowledge sharing among employees in the context of KMS use.