Knowledge sharing under perceived risk: Altruistic or goal-oriented motives?

위험 지각에 따른 지식공유: 이타적인 행동인가, 속셈이 있는 행동인가?

This study examined the effect of perceived risk, an under-explored area in the knowledge sharing literature. We proposed that employee perceptions of risk relate positively with their knowledge sharing behaviors (donating and collecting), and examined the mediating role of impression management strategies in the hypothesized relationships. We also explored the moderating effect of leader-member exchange (LMX) in the relationship between perceived risk and impression management strategies. Valid and reliable self-report and supervisory evaluation measures were collected from a sample of 251 railroad employees in safety-sensitive positions. The results indicate that perceived risk was not significantly associated with knowledge sharing, but rather the risk perception impacts were indirect through impression management strategies such as exemplification and supplication. The study also found that LMX has no moderating effect on the perceived risk and impression management strategies. In discussing these results, we present significant insights in terms of subjective risk judgment as a potential mechanism which can encourage organizational politics.