Exchange ideology in supervisor-subordinate dyads, LMX, and knowledge sharing: A social exchange perspective

Abstract

Given the importance of knowledge sharing, we integrated a social exchange perspective to understand when individuals may or may not share their knowledge. Considering personal and relational factors, we suggest that a subordinate’s exchange ideology and LMX are significant predictors of knowledge sharing. More importantly, we propose that the dynamic interplay between supervisor-subordinate exchange ideologies is critical to determine the level of LMX and knowledge sharing via LMX. Our research highlights the importance of relational and social exchange perspective to understand the quality of LMX and subordinates’ knowledge sharing behaviors. Implications for research and management practices are discussed.