Purpose

This study aims to examine psychological mechanisms underlying tacit knowledge-sharing behaviours. The personality trait of conscientiousness is tested in relation to knowledge sharing, and the effect of eagerness and subjective norm on the intention to share is measured in the context of local and multinational knowledge-intensive enterprises in Croatia.

Design/methodology/approach

The quantitative study was conducted on a sample of 288 employees of small and medium-sized companies working on knowledge-intensive tasks. The purposive sampling technique and a survey strategy were used in the study. Organizational affiliation, as it was presumed that these individuals possess a higher degree of tacit knowledge. The data collection was conducted in October 2019. Respondents worked in science and technology companies in Croatia on assignments involving information technology, electronics, petrochemicals, medicine and biochemistry. Statistical product and service solutions analysis of a moment structures software was used to perform confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling.

Findings

The findings suggest that the personality trait of conscientiousness has a positive impact on tacit knowledge sharing behaviour. An attitude of eagerness and subjective norm were also confirmed as predictors of tacit knowledge sharing behaviour. Furthermore, conscientiousness influences the eagerness to share knowledge. A significant association between subjective norm and conscientiousness was also established. Finally, the mediating effects were identified, indicating that subjective norm and eagerness mediate the relationship between conscientiousness and tacit knowledge sharing.

Practical implications

Explaining the relationship between personality and attitude in the context of knowledge sharing will result in a better understanding of factors that should be nurtured within individuals. Accordingly, distinct management initiatives are to be developed to suit these factors. Furthermore, to intensify the knowledge exchange when working on knowledge-intensive tasks of significant economic value, organizations tailor a more particularistic application to suit the individual in the domain of leadership, staffing decisions, work organization and incentive systems.

Originality/value

This study provides an in-depth analysis and theoretical understanding of factors salient for knowledge-sharing behaviour. The authors provide an overview of how knowledge sharing evolves during social interaction through intensive problem-solving sessions and teamwork. The authors render the explanation on how the personality trait of conscientiousness, conjoint with the attitude of eagerness to share know-how in the expert surrounding, is conducive to the generation of tacit knowledge sharing. Underpinning this study are employees’ psychological motives and internal drives to communicate individual cognitive capital outweighing the potential negative consequences, such as losing the competitive advantage over the colleagues.

中文翻译：

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责任心人格特质对隐性知识共享的影响：渴望与主观规范的中介作用

目的

本研究旨在探讨隐性知识共享行为背后的心理机制。责任心的人格特质在知识共享方面进行了测试，渴望和主观规范对共享意愿的影响在克罗地亚本地和跨国知识密集型企业的背景下进行了测量。

设计/方法/方法

对从事知识密集型任务的中小型公司的 288 名员工进行了定量研究。研究中使用了有目的的抽样技术和调查策略。组织从属关系，因为假定这些人拥有更高程度的隐性知识。数据收集于 2019 年 10 月进行。受访者在克罗地亚的科技公司工作，任务涉及信息技术、电子、石化、医药和生物化学。使用力矩结构软件的统计产品和服务解决方案分析进行验证性因素分析和结构方程建模。

发现

研究结果表明，尽责的人格特质对隐性知识共享行为有积极影响。渴望和主观规范的态度也被确认为隐性知识共享行为的预测因子。此外，尽责性会影响分享知识的渴望。还建立了主观规范和尽责性之间的显着关联。最后，确定了中介效应，表明主观规范和渴望在尽责性和隐性知识共享之间的关系中起中介作用。

实际影响

在知识共享的背景下解释个性和态度之间的关系将导致更好地理解应该在个人内部培养的因素。因此，将制定不同的管理举措以适应这些因素。此外，为了在从事具有重大经济价值的知识密集型任务时加强知识交流，组织在领导力、人员配备决策、工作组织和激励系统等领域定制更特殊的应用程序以适应个人。

原创性/价值

本研究对知识共享行为的显着因素进行了深入分析和理论理解。作者概述了知识共享如何通过密集的问题解决会议和团队合作在社交互动过程中演变。作者解释了责任心的人格特质，结合专家周围渴望分享知识的态度，如何有利于隐性知识共享的产生。这项研究的基础是员工沟通个人认知资本的心理动机和内部驱动力，而不是潜在的负面后果，例如失去对同事的竞争优势。