To Compare or Not to Care? Studying Knowledge-Sharing Behavior by Exploring the Interplay Between SLMX, ELMX, Negative Emotions and LMXSC
Master thesis
Submitted version
Permanent lenke
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3030218Utgivelsesdato
2022Metadata
Vis full innførselSamlinger
Sammendrag
Knowledge is considered one of the most strategic resources for firms, and employees’
perception of leader-member exchange (LMX) is significant in predicting knowledge-sharing
behavior. However, as knowledge is possessed and shared between employees, individual
factors and external conditions may enhance or inhibit knowledge sharing. Our study aims to
address this issue by examining the moderating role of negative emotions and leadermember
exchange social comparison (LMXSC) on LMX and knowledge-sharing behavior.
Conceptualizing social leader-member exchange (SLMX) and economic leader-member
exchange (ELMX) as two salient constructs, we postulate a triple interaction model to extend
the understanding of when and to which degree negative emotions and LMXSC affect
knowledge-sharing behavior. By integrating the principles of social comparison theory on
LMX, we argue that LMXSC moderates the moderated effect of negative emotions on the
relationship between ELMX, SLMX, and knowledge-sharing behavior.
We obtained cross-sectional data from 201 working individuals in Norway, and a hierarchical
moderated regression model was used to test the postulated relationships. This study
replicated prior research in the field, confirming that SLMX relates positively to knowledgesharing
behavior. Additionally, the study’s significant three-way interaction suggests that
LMXSC accentuates the negative relationship between ELMX and knowledge-sharing
behavior when employees experience negative emotions. Our research adds new insight into
the literature on ELMX and SLMX, and it emphasizes the importance of awareness regarding
social comparison, negative emotions, and their effects on knowledge-sharing behavior. We
present a critical reflection of our results, and the paper concludes with suggestions for further
research and practical implications.