Knowledge sharing in social networks: considering the role of political skill and trust
International Journal of Organization Theory & Behavior
ISSN: 1093-4537
Article publication date: 3 April 2020
Issue publication date: 22 April 2020
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to bring a more individual focus to social networks in theorizing the social process of knowledge sharing.
Design/methodology/approach
The theoretical model proposes that political skill will shape an individual's social network. Further, political skill within a network will influence the degree of complex knowledge sharing, which likely happens through the mechanism of affective- and cognitive-based trust.
Findings
Theoretical implications and future research directions are discussed.
Originality/value
Knowledge sharing is an inherently social process and as such occurs within the context of social networks in an organization. However, research to date has not fully explored the details of how and why complex knowledge sharing happens within a social network. Generally, theory on social networks has focused on structural qualities of a network, rather than the individual characteristics of the members of that network. This paper brings a more individual focus to social networks in theorizing the social process of knowledge sharing.
Keywords
Citation
Seitz, S.R. and Misra, K. (2020), "Knowledge sharing in social networks: considering the role of political skill and trust", International Journal of Organization Theory & Behavior, Vol. 23 No. 2, pp. 121-140. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOTB-07-2019-0091
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited