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Knowledge hide and seek: Role of ethical leadership, self-enhancement and job-involvement

Author

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  • Agarwal, Upasna A
  • Gupta, Megha
  • Cooke, Fang Lee

Abstract

This paper tests the mediating role of knowledge hiding in the ethical leadership–employee well-being relationship. The moderated mediation examines the impact of individual characteristics (self-enhancement motives and job involvement) on employee well-being through knowledge hiding. The hypotheses are supported by multi-source data collected at two points from 410 employee and co-worker dyads from emerging Indian multinational enterprises. Results reveal that ethical leadership reduces knowledge hiding behavior, which, in turn, strengthens the well-being of employees. Individual characteristics moderate this relationship such that the negative impact of ethical leadership on knowledge hiding is more pronounced when self-enhancement motives and job involvement are high. Finally, the moderated mediation suggests that individual characteristics act as catalysts and ameliorate the indirect negative impact of ethical leadership on employee well-being through knowledge hiding.

Suggested Citation

  • Agarwal, Upasna A & Gupta, Megha & Cooke, Fang Lee, 2022. "Knowledge hide and seek: Role of ethical leadership, self-enhancement and job-involvement," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 770-781.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:141:y:2022:i:c:p:770-781
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.11.074
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    6. Jiahui Jin & Mingsi Zhao & Fengyu Shi, 2025. "RETRACTED ARTICLE: Exploring Knowledge-Hiding Dynamics in Chinese Academic Research Teams: A Comprehensive Study," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(2), pages 6101-6123, June.
    7. van Gils, Suzanne & Seljeseth, Ingvild Müller, 2025. "Ally or antagonist? Moral identity determines the curvilinear effect of ethical leadership on employee stress," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    8. Sheng, Zhonghua & Fu, Jindi & Jeyaraj, Anand & Sun, Yuan, 2025. "Altruistic and egoistic behaviors on enterprise social network platforms: Analysis using PLS-SEM and fsQCA," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).

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