Investigating the Suitability of a Knowledge Sharing System in a Non-Digitalized Workplace

Abstract: Keeping knowledge within the company using knowledgemanagement can be a difficult task, as many studies have shown. The main reason for failures with the implementation and use of knowledge sharing systems has often been due to human factors. It is common to blame the system intended to facilitate the knowledge sharing, however, studies have shown that humans’ unwillingness to share their knowledge is one of the main causes for underutilization of these systems. This study aims to explore the attitudes towards and suitability of a knowledgesharing system in a workplace where computers are not the main tool for carrying out your work. It has been found to be of importance to evaluate the fit of an informationsystem pre-, during, and post-implementation. Therefore, this study was conducted during the pre-implementation phase in order to discover any obstacles and user attitudes towards the implementation of such a system. One of the big challenges within knowledge sharing is to transform tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge. Tacit knowledge would in the workplace, considered in the present study, be knowledge such as creative thinking or design decisions which are useful when customers ask for assistance. To understand how the knowledge sharing currently worked inthe workplace as well as the employees’ attitudes towards a digital knowledge sharing system, an ethnomethodology inspired method was adopted. This entailed observations and interviews at the workplace. The employees’ attitudes towards a digital knowledge sharing was found to be quite positive. It was also found that, if implemented, the knowledge sharing system should be an integrated part of their new system.