Knowledge withholding in sharing knowledge within an organisation: the shadowy impediment in spreading innovation

Abstract

Both academia and corporate concerns consider the importance of knowledge sharing between organisational members because, the appropriate sharing of knowledge is crucial to be creative and spread the innovation within an organisation. This paper links knowledge sharing (KS) with knowledge withholding (KW), which is meant to interrupt this transfer and also different from related concepts like knowledge barriers, deception, aggression etc. Firstly, this study suggests KS and KW are distinct and independent connected with Herzberg's two-factor theory. Secondly, KW, which has not rightly meant in courtesy of KS in earlier studies, is defined as a shadowy barrier. Thirdly, this shadowy term is classified along with its nature and appearances. Lastly, we recommend that in dyadic relations, KW activates a reciprocal psychological distrust loop that hamper spreading of innovation linking with social exchange theory and the norm of reciprocity. Future research areas are also discussed with theoretical and practical implications.