The Influence of the Big-Five Personality Traits Dimensions on Knowledge Sharing Behavior

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of the Big-Five personality (BFP) dimensions on individual’s knowledge sharing behavior. In this paper, we empirically investigated the effect of personality traits (extraversion, openness, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and neuroticism) on knowledge sharing behavior among academics in a public university in Malaysia. A questionnaire-based survey was employed for the data collection. A total of 133 academic staff members participated in the survey. The findings showed that personality traits dimension are important characteristic that influence knowledge sharing. Openness to experience, extroversion and conscientiousness has positive significant influence on individuals’ knowledge sharing behavior. Also, the results indicated that openness to experience appears to be the most significant factor influencing of knowledge sharing. Although agreeableness among academic staff has an influence on their knowledge sharing behavior yet it is not statistically significant. As expected, neuroticism had negative significant influence on the knowledge sharing.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n1s1p241