Knowledge sharing and information security: a paradox?
This paper presents the findings of a knowledge sharing and information security literature review and identifies an interesting research gap in the intersection of the two practices. In a fast changing environment where there is increasing need to understand customers’ demands and competitors’ stra...
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2014
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rr-article-94996192014-01-01T00:00:00Z Knowledge sharing and information security: a paradox? Ghosia Ahmed (7175018) Gillian Ragsdell (1248843) Wendy Olphert (7173686) Other commerce, management, tourism and services not elsewhere classified Knowledge Sharing Knowledge Protection Information Security Research Gap Literature Review Knowledge Management Security Business and Management not elsewhere classified This paper presents the findings of a knowledge sharing and information security literature review and identifies an interesting research gap in the intersection of the two practices. In a fast changing environment where there is increasing need to understand customers’ demands and competitors’ strategies (Lin et al, 2012), knowledge sharing is recognised as an essential activity for organisational success (Wasko and Faraj, 2005; Renzl, 2008). Organisations continuously aim to exploit existing knowledge, seek new ways to improve and increase knowledge sharing activities, as well as to identify and reduce possible knowledge sharing barriers. However, albeit the integral role and benefits of knowledge sharing having been widely recognised, the security or protection of knowledge has not received the same level of attention. Although the importance of protecting knowledge has been stressed by some researchers (e.g. Gold et al, 2001; Desouza and Awazu, 2004; Desouza 2006; Ryan, 2006), research into the ‘softer’ or the human behaviour aspects of knowledge protection is scarce. Information security is another field that has grown tremendously and is now a globally recognised discipline (Gifford, 2009) receiving attention from academics and practitioners (Wiant, 2005). Information security measures aim to prevent the loss or leakage of an organisation’s valuable information and manage the resulting cost of any loss. Despite organisations’ investments in prevention measures, information security breaches are still common where humans are often seen as the weakest link and ‘incorrect’ human behaviour as the most common point of failure. However, much of the research carried out to prevent information security breaches focuses on technical facets (Gordon and Loeb, 2006; Coles-Kemp, 2009). From the literature review, it is evident that knowledge sharing and information security have become well-established concepts in academia and within organisations. However, the middle ground between these two equally important, and adjacent, practices, has received inadequate attention. Knowledge sharing aims to encourage individuals to share knowledge with colleagues, organisational partners and suppliers; on the other hand, information security initiatives aim to apply controls and restrictions to the knowledge that can be shared and how it is shared. This paper draws attention to the perceived paradoxical nature of knowledge sharing and information security and raises awareness of the potential conflict that could compromise the protection of knowledge, or alternatively, reduce the openness of knowledge sharing. 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z Text Conference contribution 2134/17111 https://figshare.com/articles/conference_contribution/Knowledge_sharing_and_information_security_a_paradox_/9499619 CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 |
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Other commerce, management, tourism and services not elsewhere classified Knowledge Sharing Knowledge Protection Information Security Research Gap Literature Review Knowledge Management Security Business and Management not elsewhere classified |
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Other commerce, management, tourism and services not elsewhere classified Knowledge Sharing Knowledge Protection Information Security Research Gap Literature Review Knowledge Management Security Business and Management not elsewhere classified Ghosia Ahmed Gillian Ragsdell Wendy Olphert Knowledge sharing and information security: a paradox? |
| description |
This paper presents the findings of a knowledge sharing and information security literature review and identifies an interesting research gap in the intersection of the two practices. In a fast changing environment where there is increasing need to understand customers’ demands and competitors’ strategies (Lin et al, 2012), knowledge sharing is recognised as an essential activity for organisational success (Wasko and Faraj, 2005; Renzl, 2008). Organisations continuously aim to exploit existing knowledge, seek new ways to improve and increase knowledge sharing activities, as well as to identify and reduce possible knowledge sharing barriers. However, albeit the integral role and benefits of knowledge sharing having been widely recognised, the security or protection of knowledge has not received the same level of attention. Although the importance of protecting knowledge has been stressed by some researchers (e.g. Gold et al, 2001; Desouza and Awazu, 2004; Desouza 2006; Ryan, 2006), research into the ‘softer’ or the human behaviour aspects of knowledge protection is scarce. Information security is another field that has grown tremendously and is now a globally recognised discipline (Gifford, 2009) receiving attention from academics and practitioners (Wiant, 2005). Information security measures aim to prevent the loss or leakage of an organisation’s valuable information and manage the resulting cost of any loss. Despite organisations’ investments in prevention measures, information security breaches are still common where humans are often seen as the weakest link and ‘incorrect’ human behaviour as the most common point of failure. However, much of the research carried out to prevent information security breaches focuses on technical facets (Gordon and Loeb, 2006; Coles-Kemp, 2009). From the literature review, it is evident that knowledge sharing and information security have become well-established concepts in academia and within organisations. However, the middle ground between these two equally important, and adjacent, practices, has received inadequate attention. Knowledge sharing aims to encourage individuals to share knowledge with colleagues, organisational partners and suppliers; on the other hand, information security initiatives aim to apply controls and restrictions to the knowledge that can be shared and how it is shared. This paper draws attention to the perceived paradoxical nature of knowledge sharing and information security and raises awareness of the potential conflict that could compromise the protection of knowledge, or alternatively, reduce the openness of knowledge sharing. |
| format |
Default Conference proceeding |
| author |
Ghosia Ahmed Gillian Ragsdell Wendy Olphert |
| author_facet |
Ghosia Ahmed Gillian Ragsdell Wendy Olphert |
| author_sort |
Ghosia Ahmed (7175018) |
| title |
Knowledge sharing and information security: a paradox? |
| title_short |
Knowledge sharing and information security: a paradox? |
| title_full |
Knowledge sharing and information security: a paradox? |
| title_fullStr |
Knowledge sharing and information security: a paradox? |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Knowledge sharing and information security: a paradox? |
| title_sort |
knowledge sharing and information security: a paradox? |
| publishDate |
2014 |
| url |
https://hdl.handle.net/2134/17111 |
| _version_ |
1797737669086674944 |