The impact of (low) trust on knowledge sharing
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the differences in the level of knowledge sharing between co-workers in high versus low trust situations, for cognition-based trust and for affect-based trust as well as implicit and explicit knowledge.
Design/methodology/approach
The differences were examined through data provided by 102 professionals working for a financial organization in The Netherlands.
Findings
The differences in the level of knowledge sharing in high versus low trust situations are significant. The effect is larger for affect-based trust and for implicit knowledge.
Research limitations/implications
The survey has been conducted within one organization only.
Practical implications
Organizations should realize the importance of trust between their co-workers, and in general, there is much to gain by increasing the levels of trust between co-workers, as this will also increase knowledge sharing between co-workers.
Originality/value
Previous studies have not examined the situation of low trust and its effect on the level of knowledge sharing within a homogeneous group of co-workers.
Keywords
Citation
Rutten, W., Blaas-Franken, J. and Martin, H. (2016), "The impact of (low) trust on knowledge sharing", Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 20 No. 2, pp. 199-214. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-10-2015-0391
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited