The relationship between the big five personality traits and knowledge sharing: a case of University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)

The purpose of this study is to determine the level of each of the Big Five Personality Traits dimension amongst the public sector employees and to investigate the relationship between the personality traits and knowledge sharing amongst the employees. For the purpose of this research, a total of 80 respondents were undertaken at the Centre for Information and communication Technology Services (CICTS), University of Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS). The study applies survey research through questionnaires that was adapted from McShane, Steven Lattimore, (2013) and Pei-Lee Teh, Chen-chen Yong, Chin-Wei Chong and Siew-Yong Yew, (2011). No sampling was used as this study utilized the total population of 80 staff to participate in completing the individual questionnaire. The data was analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 20.0 in order to identify statistically significant associations. The findings suggested that, there is a significant correlation between the Big Five Personality traits dimension and knowledge sharing. It is discovered that those persons who belong to agreeableness dimension are likely to apply as compared to those with other personality traits, its correlation value showing, p = .000 (< .05), r = 851. Therefore, the findings indicate the personality traits of the CICTS’ staff at UNIMAS are significantly correlated with knowledge sharing.