Human factors influencing knowledge sharing behavior in digital port ecosystems: The mediating role of knowledge sharing intention

The successful implementation of smart port initiatives and digital transformation strategies depends not only on technological infrastructure but also on employees’ willingness to exchange knowledge across organizational boundaries. This study investigates the mediating role of knowledge-sharing intention in the relationship between human factors and inter-industry knowledge-sharing behavior among employees in Malaysian container ports. Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior, Social Cognitive Theory, and Social Exchange Theory, the study adopts a quantitative, cross-sectional design. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal that individual, peer, and organizational factors significantly influence employees’ intention to share knowledge, while knowledge-sharing intention significantly predicts inter-industry knowledge-sharing behavior. Mediation analysis confirms that knowledge-sharing intention serves as a significant mechanism through which human factors influence actual knowledge-sharing practices. The study contributes to the literature by extending the understanding of human-centered determinants of knowledge sharing within digital port ecosystems and smart logistics environments. The findings highlight the importance of fostering supportive organizational cultures, collaborative relationships, and employee motivation to strengthen sustainable knowledge exchange, innovation capability, and digital transformation within the maritime industry.