Knowledge management in universities 1. The barriers of knowledge sharing international literature review

Abstract

In knowledge economies, knowledge is one of the most important assets in modern organizations. It is especially true for higher education institutions. The proper management of knowledge is an important source of effectiveness and competitiveness. Knowledge sharing is a crucial element of managing organizational knowledge. It may be assumed then, that higher education institutions are at the forefront of knowledge sharing practices. Yet, literature and research show that several individual, organizational and technological factors prevent faculty from sharing their ideas, experiences and their knowledge in general. In this introductory paper, a comprehensive review of international literature is presented about the barriers of knowledge sharing in organizations in general and specifically in higher education, and the outcomes of former surveys are scanned.