Service inhibited knowledge hiding: exploring how and when servant leadership inhibits knowledge hiding

Purpose: This study aims to ascertain the role of servant leadership in affecting the knowledge hiding behavior of employees. This study also unfurled the mediating role of prosocial motivation and moderating role of cynicism.

Design/methodology/approach: The data were collected from 324 employees working in the IT sector, a subsector of the service sector of Pakistan in two phases. The data was analyzed through hierarchal regression.

Findings: This study found servant leadership to be negatively related to knowledge hiding behavior. This study also confirmed the mediating role of prosocial motivation linking servant leadership to knowledge hiding. Finally, cynicism was found to moderate the relationship between servant leadership and knowledge hiding behavior.

Originality/value: This academic endeavor has confirmed the previously unexplored relationship between servant leadership and knowledge hiding behavior. Additionally, the study has explicated the mediating role of prosocial motivation in the said relationship. This study has also found that the relationship between servant leadership and knowledge hiding is moderated by organizational cynicism.