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Leveraging age diversity to enhance knowledge sharing in teams

Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2024.

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Other Authors: Mbokota, Gloria
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2025
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Mbokota, Gloria
author_browse Mbokota, Gloria
author_facet Mbokota, Gloria
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2024.
format Thesis
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:38:23.596Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2025
publishDateRange 2025
publishDateSort 2025
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/102041 Leveraging age diversity to enhance knowledge sharing in teams Mbokota, Gloria ichelp@gibs.co.za Ramantsi, Omphile Kgomotso UCTD Social Networks Knowledge Sharing Weak Ties Strong Ties Age Diversity Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2024. This study sought to explore how teams can leverage age diversity to enhance knowledge sharing in the South African mining context. The study aimed to examine the influence of social networks and the quality of relationships within these networks on knowledge sharing within age-diverse teams. The research looked at these constructs from a social capital theory lens, which assisted in conducting the study. The researcher used a qualitative approach to conduct 14 semi-structured interviews with professionals who work in age-diverse teams across various mining organizations in South Africa. The main findings about social networks indicate a tendency for individuals to form age-based groups. Although this aligns with the concept of conserving social capital, it hinders the exchange of knowledge and reduces team collaboration. The dynamics of knowledge sharing between older and younger employees revealed a dichotomy: while younger employees seek knowledge from older employees, older employees tend to engage in knowledge hoarding behaviours. In terms of relationship qualities, wrong ties were found to promote knowledge sharing and collaboration with age-diverse teams. However, there was evidence of the formation of information silos in closed circles of people, which negatively impacted knowledge sharing. While weak ties pose challenges to knowledge sharing, they also serve as a safeguard against inappropriate sharing of confidential knowledge. Key recommendations revolve around businesses increasing awareness by implementing strategies around dealing with how networks function in the context of knowledge flow. These strategies could be around improving social interactions between team members, bridging connections between networks with weak ties, and managing psychological safety, all with the aim of building trust and collaboration to foster knowledge sharing. Future research could focus on examining the impact of strong or weak ties on knowledge sharing, and how these dynamics incorporate social capital. Furthermore, future studies can look at how psychological safety and trust play an impact knowledge sharing in diverse teams. Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) MBA Unrestricted Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) SDG-08:Decent work and economic growth SDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructure 2025-04-14T13:12:35Z 2025-04-14T13:12:35Z 2025-05-05 2024-11 Mini Dissertation * A2025 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/102041 en © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Social Networks
Knowledge Sharing
Weak Ties
Strong Ties
Age Diversity
Leveraging age diversity to enhance knowledge sharing in teams
title Leveraging age diversity to enhance knowledge sharing in teams
title_full Leveraging age diversity to enhance knowledge sharing in teams
title_fullStr Leveraging age diversity to enhance knowledge sharing in teams
title_full_unstemmed Leveraging age diversity to enhance knowledge sharing in teams
title_short Leveraging age diversity to enhance knowledge sharing in teams
title_sort leveraging age diversity to enhance knowledge sharing in teams
topic UCTD
Social Networks
Knowledge Sharing
Weak Ties
Strong Ties
Age Diversity
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/102041