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Article
Perceived Support, Knowledge Tacitness, and Provider Knowledge Sharing
Group & Organization Management (2013)
  • Michele L. Swift, Oregon State University
  • Meghna Virick, San Jose State University
Abstract
This study provides a direct test of social exchange theory on knowledge sharing from the perspective of the provider by examining the role of both perceived coworker support (PCS) and perceived organizational support (POS) on the extent to which employees share their knowledge with their coworkers. Also examined is the moderating role of knowledge tacitness. Results show PCS has a strong positive relationship with provider knowledge sharing but, contrary to expectation, POS does not have a significant relationship. Further, knowledge tacitness moderates the relationship between PCS and knowledge sharing such that the relationship between PCS and knowledge sharing is stronger for providers who perceive their knowledge as tacit. However, the difference in knowledge sharing between providers with knowledge high in tacitness versus low in tacitness is greatest at low levels of PCS and decreases as PCS increases. The implications of these findings to research and practice are discussed.
Keywords
  • knowledge sharing,
  • perceived coworker support,
  • perceived organizational support,
  • knowledge tacitness
Publication Date
December, 2013
DOI
10.1177/1059601113507597
Publisher Statement
SJSU users: use the following link to login and access the article via SJSU databases.
Citation Information
Michele L. Swift and Meghna Virick. "Perceived Support, Knowledge Tacitness, and Provider Knowledge Sharing" Group & Organization Management Vol. 38 Iss. 6 (2013) p. 717 - 742 ISSN: 1059-6011
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/meghna_virick/44/