Negotiate, reciprocate, or cooperate? The impact of exchange modes on inter-employee knowledge sharing. Issue 4 (11th July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Serenko, Alexander; Bontis, Nick
• Is Part Of: Journal of knowledge management. Volume 20:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 687
• Page End: 712
• Publication Date: 2016-07-11
• Subjects: Intentions -- Knowledge sharing -- Attitudes -- Negotiation -- Affect theory of social exchange -- Exchange mode; Knowledge management -- Periodicals; 658.4
• DOI: 10.1108/JKM-10-2015-0394
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1367-3270

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of exchange modes – negotiated, reciprocal, generalized, and productive – on inter-employee knowledge sharing. Design/methodology/approach: Based on the affect theory of social exchange, a theoretical model was developed and empirically tested using a survey of 691 employees from 15 North American credit unions. Findings: The negotiated mode of knowledge exchange, i.e. when a knowledge contributor explicitly establishes reciprocation conditions with a recipient, develops negative knowledge sharing attitude. The reciprocal mode, i.e. when a knowledge donor assumes that a receiver will reciprocate, has no effect on knowledge sharing attitude. The generalized exchange form, i.e. when a knowledge contributor believes that other organizational members may reciprocate, is weakly related to knowledge sharing attitude. The productive exchange mode, i.e. when a knowledge provider assumes he or she is a responsible citizen within a cooperative enterprise, strongly facilitates the development of knowledge sharing attitude, which, in turn, leads to knowledge sharing intentions. Practical implications: To facilitate inter-employee knowledge sharing, managers should focus on the development of positive knowledge sharing culture when all employees believe they contribute to a common good instead of expecting reciprocal benefits. Originality/value: This is one of the first studies to apply the affect theory of social exchange to study knowledge sharing.