The mediating effect of team cooperation on tacit knowledge transfer and interpersonal trust

Abstract

Purpose – this article aims to examine how teamwork cooperation mediates the relationship between interpersonal trust and tacit knowledge transfer. Research methodology – the paper uses data obtained from a survey conducted on 175 employees from the telecommunications sector. The multiplied regression method was applied to analyse the data according to the mediation analysis. Findings – the findings show that interpersonal trust predicts tacit knowledge transfer and team cooperation mediates this relationship. The results indicate the importance of nurturing positive, trusting relations among employees in organisations and the necessity of working interactions. Research limitations – the limitation of this research is related to the relatively small research sample. Further research could be conducted on a higher number of respondents and could cover different sectors. Additional development of presented research might include cross-cultural analysis. Originality/Value – this paper contributes to the literature of management by providing the empirical confirmation of the SET-based model that concerns the mechanism of tacit knowledge transfer. The practical implications highlight the importance of common collaborative experience and interpersonal trust that facilitates trust among co-workers and consequently influences tacit knowledge transfer. Keywords: trust, tacit knowledge, knowledge transfer, knowledge management