Abstract
This paper offers a new approach to ascertain the characteristics of the knowledge sharing network (KSN) existing among academicians and to develop a knowledge sharing system database (KSSDB) architecture to suit the discovered network. A case study qualitative method was adopted to gather meaningful insights into the academic institutions with which Malaysian academics share their knowledge. The study data were collected from fifteen academic participants in the largest university in Malaysia through direct face-to-face interviews over a period of six months. The study found that the Malaysian academicians shared their knowledge with other academicians in two networks consisting of, respectively, fifteen local academic institutions (LAI), and twelve international academic institutions (IAI) located in six countries including Japan, India, Germany, South Korea, Brunei Darussalam, and Indonesia. Based on the qualitative findings, a KSSDB architecture was developed to accommodate these two KS networks. This research contributes to the field of knowledge sharing systems (KSS) by providing a better understanding of the academic contacts with whom academicians share their knowledge globally and how to develop an appropriate KSSDB. The results would help administrators from similar academic institutions to make decisions that could yield benefits from such sharing and enhance the advantages of KS through support of KS activities at both national and international levels.