Knowledge sabotage as an extreme form of counterproductive knowledge behavior: the perspective of the target
Journal of Knowledge Management
ISSN: 1367-3270
Article publication date: 30 March 2020
Issue publication date: 29 May 2020
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the existence of knowledge sabotage in the contemporary organization from the perspective of the target.
Design/methodology/approach
This study collected and analyzed 172 critical incidents reported by 109 employees who were targets of knowledge sabotage in their organizations.
Findings
Over 50 per cent of employees experienced at least one knowledge sabotage incident. Knowledge sabotage is driven by three factors, namely, gratification, retaliation against other employees and one’s malevolent personality. Knowledge saboteurs are more likely to provide intangible than tangible knowledge. Knowledge sabotage results in extremely negative consequences for individuals, organizations and third parties. Organizations often indirectly facilitate knowledge sabotage among their employees. Both knowledge saboteurs and their targets believe in their innocence – saboteurs are certain that their action was a necessary response to targets’ inappropriate workplace behavior, whereas targets insist on their innocence and hold saboteurs solely responsible.
Practical implications
Organizations should recruit employees with compatible personalities and working styles, introduce inter-employee conflict prevention and resolution procedures, develop anti-knowledge sabotage policies, clearly articulate the individual and organizational consequences of knowledge sabotage and eliminate zero-sum game-based incentives and rewards.
Originality/value
This is the first study documenting knowledge sabotage from the target’s perspective.
Keywords
Citation
Serenko, A. (2020), "Knowledge sabotage as an extreme form of counterproductive knowledge behavior: the perspective of the target", Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 24 No. 4, pp. 737-773. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-06-2019-0337
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited