How multidimensional emotional intelligence impacts intra-organizational knowledge sharing behaviours of employees?
Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication
ISSN: 2514-9342
Article publication date: 8 March 2021
Issue publication date: 16 November 2021
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to assess the role of various emotional intelligence dimensions in stimulating two types of employee knowledge sharing behaviour – tacit knowledge sharing behaviour and explicit knowledge sharing behaviour.
Design/methodology/approach
The causal relationships among the constructs were tested by applying quantitative research methods. A questionnaire-based survey was used to draw a sample from 10 information technology (IT) organizations in India. A data set of 308 usable questionnaires was analysed using structural equation modeling technique to test the hypothesized relationships among various constructs.
Findings
This study found that all four dimensions of emotional intelligence, namely, self-emotional appraisal, others’ emotional appraisal, use of emotion and regulation of emotion have a positive effect on tacit knowledge sharing behaviour of employees. In addition, explicit knowledge sharing behaviour was also positively influenced by others’ emotional appraisal and use of emotion. However, no significant effect was made by self-emotional appraisal and regulation of emotion on explicit knowledge sharing behaviour of employees.
Originality/value
Little is empirically known about the link between emotional intelligence constructs and knowledge sharing behaviours. This study brings new insights by assessing the role of different emotional intelligence dimensions on two different types of knowledge sharing behaviour. An interesting finding advances the understanding of knowledge sharing behaviours by indicating a greater variance in tacit knowledge sharing behaviour (caused by emotional constructs) as compared to explicit knowledge sharing behaviour.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to the Editor, Associate Editor and two anonymous Reviewers for their constructive feedback and useful insights to improve the earlier versions of this paper.
Citation
Malik, S. (2021), "How multidimensional emotional intelligence impacts intra-organizational knowledge sharing behaviours of employees?", Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, Vol. 70 No. 8/9, pp. 858-875. https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-09-2020-0147
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited