Knowledge Sharing of Postgraduates Online: The Intention-Behavior Gap

Knowledge is recognized as a strategic asset and a critical factor for organizational development and competitive advantage in the knowledge economy. All modern organizations should incorporate knowledge management (KM) practices, particularly knowledge sharing behavior (KSB). This research investigates factors influencing KSB based on planned behavior theory and the technology acceptance model in higher education institutes (HEIs) in Jordan. A descriptive analysis approach was applied in the study. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to a sample of 500 respondents across the HEIs. The findings reveal that intentions positively influence MBA students’ KSB but explain less than 50% of KSB; hence an intention-behavior gap is observed. Contextual factors are also identified as significant, namely accreditation and HEI culture. No significant effects of knowledge sharing attitude, subjective norms, perceived ease, course involvement and perceived usefulness are identified. Perceived risk impacted negatively on students’ intentions and KSB. Complex cognitive and behavioral processes between individuals results in knowledge sharing. Combining theoretical foundations permits the identification of those features explaining either intention or behavior, or both. The extent of the intention-behavior gap indicates further research may focus on barriers to converting intentions into actual behavior to support knowledge sharing

Why do consumers trust online travel websites? Drivers and outcomes of consumer trust toward online travel websites

Egypt is currently one of the leading nations especially in the Middle East region with a well-established e-commerce environment and advanced IT infrastructure, but rapid growth of e-commerce will soon occur in other nations with similar consumption patterns. This study tests a model of antecedents (consumer experience, propensity to trust, reputation, perceived website size, ease of use, perceived usefulness, and website quality) and consequences of consumers’ trust toward online travel websites. Trust is expected to predict consumer attitude, perceived risk, and intention to purchase travel online. Data of 1,431 users of online travel websites were selected from the Supreme Council of Universities Database–Egypt (SCU) and analyzed through structural equation modeling. The findings show that all the aforementioned factors with the exception of consumer experience influence consumer trust toward online travel websites. Trust influences consumers’ attitude, perceived risk, and intention to purchase travel online