engleski

Personality trait of conscientiousness impact on tacit knowledge sharing: the mediating effect of eagerness and subjective norm

Purpose – This study aims to examine psychological mechanisms underlying tacit knowledge- sharingbehaviours. The personality trait of conscientiousness is tested in relation to knowledge sharing, and theeffect of eagerness and subjective norm on the intention to share is measured in the context of local andmultinational knowledge-intensive enterprises in Croatia.Design/methodology/approach – The quantitative study was conducted on a sample of 288employees of small and medium-sized companies working on knowledge-intensive tasks. The purposivesampling technique and a survey strategy were used in the study. Organizational affiliation, as it waspresumed that these individuals possess a higher degree of tacit knowledge. The data collection wasconducted in October 2019. Respondents worked in science and technology companies in Croatia onassignments involving information technology, electronics, petrochemicals, medicine and biochemistry.Statistical product and service solutions analysis of a moment structures software was used to performconfirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling.Findings – The findings suggest that the personality trait of conscientiousness has a positive impact ontacit knowledge sharing behaviour. An attitude of eagerness and subjective norm were also confirmed aspredictors of tacit knowledge sharing behaviour. Furthermore, conscientiousness influences theeagerness to share knowledge. A significant association between subjective norm andconscientiousness was also established. Finally, the mediating effects were identified, indicating thatsubjective norm and eagerness mediate the relationship between conscientiousness and tacitknowledge sharing.Practical implications – Explaining the relationship between personality and attitude in the contextof knowledge sharing will result in a better understanding of factors that should be nurtured withinindividuals. Accordingly, distinct management initiatives are to be developed to suit these factors.Furthermore, to intensify the knowledge exchange when working on knowledge-intensive tasks ofsignificant economic value, organizations tailor a more particularistic application to suit theindividual in the domain of leadership, staffing decisions, work organization and incentivesystems.Originality/value – This study provides an in-depth analysis and theoretical understanding of factorssalient for knowledge- sharing behaviour. The authors provide an overview of how knowledge sharingevolves during social interaction through intensive problem-solving sessions and teamwork. The authorsrender the explanation on how the personality trait of conscientiousness, conjoint with the attitude ofeagerness to share know-how in the expert surrounding, is conducive to the generation of tacitknowledge sharing. Underpinning this study are employees’ psychological motives and internal drives tocommunicate individual cognitive capital outweighing the potential negative consequences, such aslosing the competitive advantage over the colleagues.

Personality traits ; Knowledge sharing ; Theory of planned behaviour ; Tacit knowledge ; Conscientiousness ; Eagerness

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