thesis_Daniela Noethen_print final - Jacobs University

Multilevel Investigation of Antecedents of Knowledge Sharing and Seeking in Teams
concepts (such as knowledge sharing) when participants had questions while filling out the
questionnaire, and by using different scale endpoints and formats for predictor and outcome
measures. Second, using very short scales may result in low reliabilities and in a reduction of
effects sizes. On the other hand, measurements with few or even single-items have been
shown to be reliable for many constructs, including job satisfaction and job effectiveness
(Wanous & Hudy, 2001), and knowledge transfer (Kankanhalli et al., 2005; Watson &
Hewett, 2006; Zárraga & Bonache, 2005). Indeed, we obtained satisfactory reliabilities and
could demonstrate significant effects of the independent on the dependent variables in spite of
the rather short scales.
2.6.8. Future research directions
Future research could, in addition to research issues already mentioned (inconsistencies
regarding age effects on knowledge transfer or effects of extrinsic benefits on knowledge
sharing), examine the influence of within-team sharing and seeking knowledge on individual
and team performance. Similar to the study of predictors, outcomes of knowledge transfer
have to date also mainly been studied for either knowledge sharing (Cummings, 2004;
Quigley et al., 2007) or knowledge transfer (e.g., Collins & Smith, 2006). Furthermore, it
would be interesting to investigate the (re)use of transferred knowledge. According to some
authors, successful knowledge transfer does not end with the recipient receiving knowledge,
but with the recipient unit applying the transferred knowledge. This has been claimed with
respect to knowledge transfer at the business unit level (Kostova, 1999; Szulanski, 1996) as
well as for individual-level transfer (Watson & Hewett, 2006).
74