A supportive knowledge sharing climate to enable ITbusiness strategic alignment : an empirical study on the telecommunications sector in Jordan

Abstract EN

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the organizational knowledge sharing climate and the enablement of IT/Business strategic alignment.

A suggested model was developed by combining Mckinzey seven Ss model with Luftman and his colleagues model of six main IT/Business strategic alignment enablers.

So, the hypothesized model was estimated with two latent variables; supportive knowledge sharing climate (SKSC), IT/Business strategic alignment enablement (ITBAE), and six paths represent the relationship between the independent variable and the sub dimensions of the dependent variable.

To provide an objective view of the current situation within the researched companies, an organization-wide assessment approach was adopted in this study.

For that purpose, a structured quantitative survey using a questionnaire tool was developed and delivered to companies' members from all managerial levels within mobile and fixed telecommunications organizations in Jordan.

Based on the perceptions of respondents from the researched organizations, the seven Ss of knowledge sharing climate were explored throughout the study and the relationship between knowledge sharing climate and IT/Business strategic alignment enablement was investigated.

The results of the study proved the suggested research model as they confirmed the main and the sub hypotheses of the study.

The analysis results confirmed the main hypothesis and indicated that there is a direct positive (beta = 0.

86), significant (t-value= 10.76, p<0.05) relationship between supportive knowledge sharing climate and IT/Business strategic alignment enablement.

The results also prove that there are indirect positive significant relationships between supportive knowledge sharing climate on the one side and each of the IT/Business strategic alignment enablers on the other side.

These results confirmed the sub-hypotheses.

Based on the results of this study implications for theory, practice and future research in knowledge sharing climate and IT/Business strategic alignment enablement were recommended.