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Evidence of the conditions affecting knowledge hiding among librarians in academic libraries

Mojtaba Kaffashan Kakhki (Department of Knowledge and Information Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran)
Ambika Zutshi (School of Business, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia)
Shabnam Refoua (Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran and Department of Library, Scientific Documents and Publication, Insurance Research Center (IRC), Tehran, Iran)
Iman Maleksadati (Department of Knowledge and Information Science, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran)
Hassan Behzadi (Department of Knowledge and Information Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran)

The Electronic Library

ISSN: 0264-0473

Article publication date: 31 May 2024

Issue publication date: 26 July 2024

156

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to identify and theorize the conditions affecting the formation of librarians’ knowledge-hiding behaviour in academic libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is a qualitative research based on the grounded theory approach. The data collection method involved in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The data was analysed using the MAXQDA software in three stages: open, axial and selective coding. The study included 22 faculty members and experienced librarians from academic libraries. The participants were selected using a combination of targeted and snowball sampling techniques.

Findings

The study yielded 96 open codes, 24 axial codes and 18 selective general codes related to the axial category of knowledge hiding (KH). The librarians’ KH axial coding paradigm pattern was developed in an academic library setting. The study also highlighted some general consequences of KH in academic libraries, such as lobbying and creating knowledge rents, deterioration of organizational relationships and interactions, reducing the competitive advantage of academic libraries and hindering individual and organizational learning.

Originality/value

This study has made a valuable contribution to the identification and explanation of the factors that affect KH. In addition, it has filled a research gap within the library and information science (LIS) field. The findings of the study may offer managers new strategies for addressing the occurrence of KH in academic libraries, and they also add to the existing literature on knowledge management in LIS.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors appreciate the valuable suggestions of the editor and anonymous reviewers of this article. Their helpful viewpoints greatly enriched and improved this research. The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Citation

Kaffashan Kakhki, M., Zutshi, A., Refoua, S., Maleksadati, I. and Behzadi, H. (2024), "Evidence of the conditions affecting knowledge hiding among librarians in academic libraries", The Electronic Library, Vol. 42 No. 4, pp. 598-616. https://doi.org/10.1108/EL-09-2023-0229

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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