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The Influence of Negative Workplace Gossip on Knowledge Sharing: Insight from the Cognitive Dissonance Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaolei Zou

    (School of Management, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China)

  • Xiaoxi Chen

    (School of Management, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China)

  • Fengling Chen

    (School of Management, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China)

  • Chuxin Luo

    (School of Management, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China)

  • Hongyan Liu

    (School of Management, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China)

Abstract

Increasing attention is drawn to the effect of workplace gossip on the organization. Negative workplace gossip is a negative evaluation of others behind their back in the workplace. Based on the cognitive dissonance theory, the study explored the relationship between negative workplace gossip and knowledge sharing, through the mediation of organizational trust and the moderation of self-efficacy. The regression results of a two-stage questionnaire survey on 173 Chinese employees suggested that negative workplace gossip negatively influenced employees’ knowledge sharing through organizational trust. Additionally, findings also showed that self-efficacy moderated the mediation of organizational trust in the relationship between negative workplace gossip and knowledge sharing. This research provided a new theoretical perspective on the impact of workplace gossip, which has management implications for informal communication and team-building.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaolei Zou & Xiaoxi Chen & Fengling Chen & Chuxin Luo & Hongyan Liu, 2020. "The Influence of Negative Workplace Gossip on Knowledge Sharing: Insight from the Cognitive Dissonance Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-17, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:8:p:3282-:d:347177
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Jafari-Sadeghi, Vahid & Amoozad Mahdiraji, Hannan & Devalle, Alain & Pellicelli, Anna Claudia, 2022. "Somebody is hiding something: Disentangling interpersonal level drivers and consequences of knowledge hiding in international entrepreneurial firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 383-396.
    3. Alamzeb Aamir & Sharif Ullah Jan & Abdul Qadus & Abdelmohsen A. Nassani & Mohamed Haffar, 2021. "Impact of Knowledge Sharing on Sustainable Performance: Mediating Role of Employee’s Ambidexterity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-13, November.

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