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Knowledge sharing, if not successful, can hinder the development of small- and medium-sized firms because of loss of productivity and competitiveness. Knowledge sharing is subject to organizational and national cultural influences. Medium-sized firms often implement general knowledge-sharing models without considering cultural factors. In this qualitative, multisite, exploratory case study the influence of cultural factors on knowledge-sharing activities in medium-sized enterprises in transition economies is examined. The study is driven by the central research question:How do cultural factors influence employees´ perceptions of knowledge-sharing initiatives in medium-sized enterprises in transition economies? Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 managers working in 10 medium-sized enterprises in Albania, which is a transition economy. The six themes generated reveal the influence of cultural factors on employees perceptions of knowledge-sharing initiatives in medium-sized enterprises in transition economies. The key findings of this study are that national culture and organizational culture influence employee behavior and participation.

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Narasimha Rao Vajjhala is an Assistant Professor at the University of New York Tirana and has a doctorate in management from the University of Phoenix, United States. He also has a Master s in Computer Applications (MCA) from Osmania University in India as well as Master s in Business Administration (MBA) from IUKB, Switzerland.

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