Hoard before you share: knowledge hoarding as mediator between meaningful work and tacit knowledge sharing

Effective tacit knowledge sharing (TKS) helps firms gain a competitive advantage in a knowledge economy. Drawing on social identity theory, the study posits that meaning-making through work (MMW) leads to TKS. Knowledge hoarding mediates, and formalization moderates the MMW-TKS relationship. As possession of knowledge is necessary for knowledge sharing, MMW promotes knowledge hoarding; therefore, knowledge hoarding is posited as a mediator between MMW and TKS. Formalization is hypothesized to negatively moderate the MMW-knowledge hoarding, and knowledge hoarding-knowledge sharing relationships as it promotes systemic organizational actions rather than individual-level behaviors. The study hypotheses were tested using a cross-sectional survey of 250 employees, with all hypotheses finding support. The study improves our understanding of TKS antecedents and calls for debate on the dominant conceptualization and operationalization of knowledge hoarding as a knowledge-withholding behaviour. It also sheds light on the substituting effects of institutional endeavours on individual efforts.