This study aims to examine how the organizational dimension of workplace friendships (WFs), which involves factors such as the opportunity for and prevalence of friendships, affects the knowledge management (KM) processes within public Islamic universities. These processes encompass knowledge generation, storage, sharing and application.
The study data were obtained through an extensive survey method as part of a cross-sectional investigation. A total of 280 responses were collected for the final analysis from faculty members affiliated with a public Islamic university in Mosul city, located in northern Iraq. The data were initially analyzed using SPSSv26, and PLS-SEM analysis was performed using SmartPLSv3.9. This validated the measures’ reliability and validity and tested the hypothesized relationships.
The analysis using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) confirms that all the proposed pathways are consistent with the conceptual model presented in this study. In particular, the organizational dimension of WFs, including the opportunities for and prevalence of friendships, has a positive and significant influence on the KM processes.
The empirical insights of this study hold significant value for policymakers, managerial professionals and academics in Islamic universities in developing countries. These insights can enhance their administrative and academic performance by offering guidance on effectively dealing with positive friendship behaviors and understanding their effect on KM processes.
The significance of this paper is underscored by the scarcity of literature investigating the influence of the organizational dimension of WF on KM processes, particularly within the Islamic higher education context. Therefore, this study presents a novel and distinct approach.
