Igniting Potential: How Key Antecedents Shape Employee Participation in Knowledge Management Systems

In the dynamic environment of modern organizations, Knowledge Management Systems (KMS) have become crucial, with many established organizations relying on KMS to compile extensive document repositories. The strategic utilization of this accumulated knowledge is vital for maintaining and enhancing an organization's competitive edge. However, there is often a noticeable shortfall in employee engagement in extracting knowledge from these systems. Previous research has primarily focused on singular factors like Task Technology Fit (TTF), Flow Theory, Absorptive Capacity Theory, and knowledge quality, yet it has not integrated these elements into a comprehensive model to fully assess their collective impact. This research aims to develop an integrated model to investigate the factors that influence employees' intention to utilize knowledge from KMSs. The main participants of the study are knowledge workers who regularly interact with KMS in a computer manufacturing company. A stratified random sampling strategy is employed to ensure representation across various organizational levels and sectors. The purpose of this study is to explore the interplay of various determinants that foster employee engagement with KMS, focusing particularly on task knowledge fit, absorptive capacity, and the impact of knowledge quality on task performance. The central research question examines how these factors within a KMS influence an employee's engagement and the perceived utility of the system. The research identifies a significant gap in the current understanding of the complex relationship between these factors and their collective influence on the efficacy of KMS. The anticipated outcome of this research is a comprehensive model that illuminates the multitude of factors that drive employees' intentions to harness knowledge from KMSs. These factors are expected to aid in task completion and enhance job performance, thereby encouraging knowledge acquisition. The novelty of this research lies in its amalgamation of various theoretical perspectives into a cohesive analytical framework, aiming to enhance employee engagement and willingness to understand within organizations. Survey and interview data were collected from a company in Taiwan.