How to attenuate the effects of abusive supervision on knowledge hiding: the neutralizing roles of coworker support and individual characteristics
Journal of Knowledge Management
ISSN: 1367-3270
Article publication date: 21 January 2022
Issue publication date: 26 July 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to theoretically discuss and empirically test the mediating effect of emotional exhaustion (EE) and the moderating effects of perceived coworker support (PCS) and positive affectivity (PA) in the relationship between abusive supervision (AS) and knowledge hiding (KH).
Design/methodology/approach
The authors adopted a three-wave survey to collect data from eight high-tech companies in north China. The final sample of 209 available responses was analyzed with hierarchical regression analyses and bias-corrected bootstrapping methods.
Findings
AS positively affected employees’ KH. EE fully mediated this positive relationship. PCS and PA attenuated the relationship between AS and EE, respectively, and the mediating effects of EE.
Originality/value
First, the study contributes to the knowledge management and leadership literature by examining the relationship between the following two dysfunctional workplace behaviors: AS and KH. Second, the authors explicitly tested the underlying psychological mechanism in the above relationship. Third, this study specified two ways – obtaining support from coworkers and generating positive emotions – to attenuate the toxic effects of AS on victims.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Funding: This work was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, and the Research Funds of Renmin University of China (No.21XNF043).
Citation
Hao, Q., Wei, K. and Zhang, B. (2022), "How to attenuate the effects of abusive supervision on knowledge hiding: the neutralizing roles of coworker support and individual characteristics", Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 26 No. 7, pp. 1807-1825. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-02-2021-0167
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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