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A moderated mediation model of workplace ostracism and task performance: Roles of knowledge sharing and task interdependence

Yiran Zhao (Renmin University of China, Beijing, China)
Xingchao Wang (Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China)
Chen Chen (Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China)
Kan Shi (Renmin University of China, Beijing, China)

Chinese Management Studies

ISSN: 1750-614X

Article publication date: 17 October 2019

Issue publication date: 14 April 2020

946

Abstract

Purpose

Ostracism within organizations may pose communication challenges and reduce opportunities for interactions, potentially affecting coworker knowledge sharing and subsequent performance outcomes. Drawing on conservation of resources theory, the purpose of this paper is to examine whether knowledge sharing mediates the association between workplace ostracism and employees’ task performance, and whether the mediating effect is moderated by task interdependence.

Design/methodology/approach

Matched data were collected from a two-wave survey among 210 employees and their direct supervisors who work in two Chinese enterprises.

Findings

Results indicate that workplace ostracism is negatively associated with task performance and that knowledge sharing mediates this relation. Further, task interdependence exacerbated the main effect of workplace ostracism and the indirect effect of knowledge sharing.

Originality/value

This paper offers an alternative perspective (i.e. pragmatic impacts of workplace ostracism) to understand how workplace ostracism undermines employees’ task performance. Moreover, the findings emphasize that contextual factors may strengthen the detrimental effects of workplace ostracism in the practical domain.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 71702202]; and National Social Science Foundation of China [grant number 13&ZD155]. There is no financial interest.

Citation

Zhao, Y., Wang, X., Chen, C. and Shi, K. (2020), "A moderated mediation model of workplace ostracism and task performance: Roles of knowledge sharing and task interdependence", Chinese Management Studies, Vol. 14 No. 1, pp. 51-67. https://doi.org/10.1108/CMS-10-2018-0716

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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