Are there any antecedents of top-down knowledge hiding in firms? Evidence from the United Arab Emirates
Journal of Knowledge Management
ISSN: 1367-3270
Article publication date: 27 August 2019
Issue publication date: 20 November 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the antecedents of top-down knowledge hiding in buying and supplying firms.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a multiple case study methodology by considering four UAE-based firms and further employing 20 semi-structured interviews with managers of buying and supplying firms having a local and foreign nationality.
Findings
Based on the qualitative interviews, senior managers were found to be intentionally hiding knowledge from their managers based on five individual, three interpersonal and two firm-level reasons.
Research limitations/implications
This study has some limitations. First, the results of this study are not generalizable to a broader population. Second, this study explores behavioural patterns with respect to United Arab Emirates culture only.
Practical implications
Firms can use the findings of this study to understand what really motivates senior managers to intentionally hide knowledge from their subordinates. Also, this study provides some constructive guidelines to firms/senior management, which can discourage the culture of knowledge hiding in firms.
Originality/value
This study contributes to knowledge management literature by revealing multi-level and multi-faceted antecedents of top-down knowledge hiding in buying and supplying firms in the supply chain context.
Keywords
Citation
Butt, A.S. and Ahmad, A.B. (2019), "Are there any antecedents of top-down knowledge hiding in firms? Evidence from the United Arab Emirates", Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 23 No. 8, pp. 1605-1627. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-04-2019-0204
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited