JOURNAL OF CURRENT DISCOURSE AND RESEARCH (JCDR)

PERSONALITY TRAITS AS PREDICTORS OF KNOWLEDGE SHARING AMONG UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATORS IN PUBLIC TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN SOUTHWEST NIGERIA

Abstract

Knowledge sharing remains a key facilitator of organisations, especially in higher learning institutions. However, there has been a lack of focus on the role of relatively stable individual differences in personality traits among administrators in most tertiary institutions in developing countries. This study investigated personality traits as predictors of knowledge sharing behaviour among university administrators in public tertiary institutions in Southwest Nigeria. Cross-sectional design was employed in the study, and a total of 150 participants were selected using multistage sampling technique. Instruments used for this study were the Big Five Inventory (BFI-10) and a validated Knowledge Sharing Scale with a reliability coefficient of 0.95. Correlation results indicated significant relationships between age and knowledge sharing (r =

.19, p < .01), gender and knowledge sharing (r = −.15, p < .05), and extraversion and knowledge sharing (r = .13, p < .05). However, multiple regression analysis revealed that age (β = .02, p > .05) and gender (β = .01, p > .05) did not independently predict knowledge-sharing behaviour. Among the Big Five traits, only extraversion significantly predicted knowledge sharing (β = .15, t = 2.42, p < .05), while agreeableness (β = .06, p > .05), conscientiousness (β = −.04, p > .05), neuroticism (β = .06, p > .05), and openness to experience (β = −.00, p > .05) were non-significant. Also, the regression model was not statistically significant (F(7, 142) = 1.22, p > .05). The study concludes that personality disposition is significant in facilitating knowledge sharing behaviour in the context of university administration structures.