Investigating the Relationships Between Cultural Embeddedness, Happiness, and Knowledge Management Practices in an Inter-Organizational Virtual Team

Frontiers in Psychology

Hao-Fan Chumg¹  Chao-Jung Huang² 

[1] Department of Business Administration, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, Taichung City, Taiwan;Department of Information Management, Tamkang University, New Taipei City, Taiwan;

关键词: knowledge management;    embeddedness theory;    virtual team;    happiness;    guanxi;    Confucianism;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2020.512288

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

In light of the considerable disparity in the thinking patterns between Western and Chinese societies, this study seeks to develop a better comprehension of the influences of traditional Chinese cultural elements on knowledge management (KM) practices within contemporary Taiwanese society. To this end, the research draws on the concepts of “guanxi” based on the embeddedness theory concept through the lens of employees’ happiness. A qualitative case study was conducted within a virtual team (in this case, Taiwanese Farmers’ Associations (FAs)), and data were collected from both observations and 36 interviewees. Based on the resulting analysis, the findings show that individuals’ knowledge-sharing behavior results from a complex interplay of a sense of well-being, guanxi, and the Chinese culture rooted within such organizations. The study provides a significant insight into the cultural implications of KM strategies and offers valuable advice for knowledge managers within the context of Taiwanese society.

【 授权许可】

CC BY