Łukasz Sułkowski

Management Department, WSB University,

Poland

lsulkowski@wsb.edu.pl

ORCID 0000-0002-1248-2743

Determinants of willingness to share knowledge in local government administration

Joanna Wójcik-Chodorowska

Management Department, WSB University, 

Poland

joanna.wojcikchodorowska@wsb.edu.pl

ORCID 0009-0004-9924-5899

Lubomira Trojan

Management Department, WSB University, 

Poland

ltrojan@wsb.edu.pl

ORCID 0000-0001-9883-1117

Abstract. The article analyses the determinants of willingness to share knowledge in local government administration, focusing primarily on the relational and organisational conditions of this process. The starting point is the assumption that the effectiveness of public organisations depends not only on formal structures and procedures, but above all on the quality of relationships and the conditions conducive to knowledge sharing. The study aimed to determine the importance of a climate of trust and psychological safety, as well as formal organisational support, for employees’ declarative willingness to share knowledge. A quantitative study was conducted among employees of local government units located in southern Poland. The results indicate that a climate of trust and psychological safety plays a key role in shaping attitudes conducive to knowledge sharing, while formal support mechanisms are of secondary importance. At the same time, a declarative acceptance of knowledge sharing does not directly translate into employees’ actual attitudes towards this process. The article emphasises the relational nature of knowledge management processes in the public sector and highlights the limited effectiveness of measures based solely on formal instruments.

Received: July, 2025

1st Revision: January, 2026

Accepted: March, 2026

DOI: 10.14254/2071-8330.2026/19-1/6

JEL Classification: D83, H83, M12, M54

Keywords: knowledge sharing, psychological safety, climate of trust, local government administration in Poland, public sector