Affiliations:
International Business School Suzhou, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Jie Li, International Business School Suzhou, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, 8
Chongwen Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou 215123 China. Tel.: +86 (0)51288161912; Email: [email protected].
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Knowledge sharing is a prerequisite for organizational success, while knowledge hiding is often detrimental to organizational development.
OBJECTIVE: Drawing upon regulatory focus theory and interactionism, this research aims to investigate how regulatory focus influences employees’ knowledge hiding and the moderating role of cooperative climate.
METHODS: Data were collected through a time-lagged survey of 320 full-time employees enrolled in a professional training program at a Chinese university. Confirmatory factor analysis, descriptive analysis, hierarchical regression analyses, and bootstrap analysis were some of the analytical techniques used.
RESULTS: The results indicate that promotion focus has a positive impact on knowledge hiding, whereas prevention focus is negative to knowledge hiding. Furthermore, cooperative climate moderates the influence of regulatory focus on knowledge hiding.
CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to our understanding of the important role of employees’ regulatory focus on knowledge hiding behavior in the workplace.
