The impact of ethnic and lingual diversity on short term knowledge sharing

Seyyedali Ziaei, Steven Walczak and Khalil Md Nor

International Journal of Business Environment, 2014, vol. 6, issue 3, 246-265

Abstract: Based on social categorisation theory and the similarity attraction paradigm, we propose that a high degree of ethno/lingo diversity in knowledge-intensive work groups, especially short-term ones, can inhibit knowledge sharing among members. Barriers identified in the knowledge sharing literature include trust, communication, and informal social interaction. A semi-quantitative approach was applied, involving a group collaborative decision making task. The results of the research task show that knowledge sharing within groups as a whole suffers as ethnic and linguistic diversity increase for short term groups. The findings provide a starting point for theory development and suggest creating more homogeneous groups for short-term tasks.

Keywords: ethnic diversity; ethnicity; knowledge management; KM; short term tasks; knowledge sharing; linguistic diversity; teams; work groups; teamwork; trust; communication; informal social interaction; group decision making; collaborative decision making. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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