In- and extra-role knowledge sharing among information technology professionals: The five-factor model perspective

Knowledge is a valuable asset, and knowledge sharing (KS) among employees is particularly important in knowledge-based organizations. This study proposes and investigates two types of KS: in- and extra-role. In-role KS is based on role expectations, and extra-role KS extends beyond role expectations. This study also investigates the antecedents and consequences of the two types of KS among information technology (IT) professionals. The five-factor model is applied to build the research model. The results reveal that among IT professionals, openness to experience, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and neuroticism influence in- or extra-role KS. Unexpectedly, extroversion has no effect on either, indicating the unique behavior of IT professionals compared with others. The study also shows that both in- and extra-role KS have positive effects on team cohesion. Academic and practical implications are provided based on the research findings.