Understanding counterproductive knowledge behavior: antecedents and consequences of intra-organizational knowledge hiding

Alexander Serenko is based at the Faculty of Business Administration, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Canada. Nick Bontis is based at the DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada. Abstract Purpose – This paper aims to explore antecedents and consequences of intra-organizational knowledge hiding. Design/methodology/approach – A model was developed and tested with data collected from 691 knowledge workers from 15 North American credit unions. Findings – Knowledge hiding and knowledge sharing belong to unique yet possibly overlapping constructs. Individual employees believe that they engage in knowledge hiding to a lesser degree than their co-workers. The availability of knowledge management systems and knowledge policies has no impact on intra-organizational knowledge hiding. The existence of a positive organizational knowledge culture has a negative effect on intra-organizational knowledge hiding. In contrast, job insecurity motivates knowledge hiding. Employees may reciprocate negative knowledge behavior, and knowledge hiding promotes voluntary turnover. Practical implications – Managers should realize the uniqueness of counterproductive knowledge behavior and develop proactive measures to reduce or eliminate it. Originality/value – Counterproductive knowledge behavior is dramatically under-represented in knowledge management research, and this study attempts to fill that void.