The mediating role of trust in stimulating the relationship between transformational leadership and knowledge sharing processes

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the influence of transformational leadership (TL) and two aspects of trust (trust in a leader and trust among members, including two versions of each: “disclosure” and “reliance”) on knowledge collecting (KC) and knowledge donating (KD). Design/methodology/appr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of knowledge management 2018-04, Vol.22 (3), p.521-537
Main Authors: Le, Phong Ba, Lei, Hui
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Communication
Competitive advantage
Disclosure
Emotions
Employees
Influence
Knowledge management
Knowledge sharing
Leadership
Management styles
Research methodology
Social exchange theory
Studies
Transformational leadership
Trust
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Summary:Purpose This paper aims to investigate the influence of transformational leadership (TL) and two aspects of trust (trust in a leader and trust among members, including two versions of each: “disclosure” and “reliance”) on knowledge collecting (KC) and knowledge donating (KD). Design/methodology/approach Structural equation modelling was used to test the effects of TL and aspects of trust on knowledge sharing (KS) processes using data collected from 336 participants at 35 large service firms. Findings The results showed that reliance-based trust in a leader (LR), disclosure-based trust in a leader (LD), reliance-based trust among members (MR) and disclosure-based trust among members (MD) act as mediators in the relationship between TL and KS processes. LR and MR have more significant effects on KD, whereas LD, MD and TL have more significant effects on KC. Research limitations/implications Future research could examine how personal characteristics (e.g. education level and working experiences) moderate the relationships between TL and KS processes. Practical implications From a practical perspective, the paper provides directors/managers an increased understanding of paths to success in KC and KD. Originality/value This paper provides theoretical initiatives on building employee trust and improving KS in the field of knowledge management. From a managerial perspective, this study identifies necessary factors for encouraging and promoting KS processes within an organization.
ISSN:1367-3270
1758-7484
DOI:10.1108/JKM-10-2016-0463