Effect of abusive supervision on organizational cynicism (Cognitive, affective, behavioral) mediating effect of playing dumb

The purpose of the present study is to examine the link of Abusive Supervision with Organizational Cynicism i.e. Cognitive, Emotional, or Behavioral Cynicism by focusing on the mediating role of Abusive Supervisor’s Knowledge Hiding behavior of Playing Dumb in Higher Education Institutions in Pakistan. Data was collected using questionnaire under the survey research design. The participants included 400 faculty and staff members from Higher Education Institutions in Pakistan. Structural Equation Modelling using SmartPLS is used to test the hypothesized relationships of Abusive Supervision and Knowledge Hiding Behavior of Abusive Supervisors with the faculty and staff’s Organizational Cynicism behaviors. The results indicate that Abusive Supervision is significantly and positively related with faculty and staff’s Cognitive, Emotional, and Behavioral Cynicism. This study also indicates that Knowledge Hiding behavior of Playing Dumb fully mediates the relationship between Abusive Supervision and Cognitive Cynicism and partially mediates the relationship between Abusive Supervision and Behavioral Cynicism. However, Playing Dumb as a knowledge Hiding behaviour does not impact the relationship between Abusive Supervision and Emotional Cynicism. This means that Knowledge Hiding by Playing dumb contributes to the adverse effect of Abusive Supervision, leading to increased Cognitive and Behavioral Cynicism. This study contributes to literature on Organizational Cynicism and Abusive Supervision by studying the link between them and effect of Abusive Supervisor’s Knowledge Hiding behavior of Playing Dumb as a mediator. The study also indicates that Abusive Supervision characterized by Knowledge Hiding behavior of Playing Dumb is really a problem in Higher Education Institutions in Pakistan. This study holds importance for top management in Higher Education Institutions in to curb the negative effects of Abusive Supervision by developing a policy framework that ensures prevention of Organizational Cynicism in faculty and staff. Moreover, the policy guidelines should ensure that control of essential resources such as Knowledge in the hands of the Abusive leaders should not be misused, causing Organizational Cynicism and eventually leading to problems such as turnover and psychological and behavioral issues among faculty and staff in Higher Education Institutions of Pakistan.