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Differentiation in perceived organizational support and knowledge sharing of outsourced employees – a cross-hierarchy moderating model

Chuanyan Qin (School of Medical Business, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China)
Pengcheng Wang (School of Business, Guangxi University, Nanning, China)
Shanshi Liu (School of Business Administration, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China)

Employee Relations

ISSN: 0142-5455

Article publication date: 1 October 2024

Issue publication date: 2 December 2024

76

Abstract

Purpose

Outsourcing has become a crucial avenue for companies to acquire external knowledge. To better understand how dual organizational supports influence the knowledge sharing behavior of outsourced employees within triangular employment relationships, grounded in social exchange theory, this study explores the effect and mechanism of differentiation in perceived organizational support (DPOS) on knowledge sharing of outsourced employees.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-wave survey was conducted to test the hypotheses, and data were collected from 271 outsourced employees and their leaders (from client organizations) in 52 interorganizational teams.

Findings

Results show that DPOS positively affect the knowledge sharing of outsourced employees and has a stronger predictive value than that of client organizational support. Outsourced employees’ psychological ownership to the interorganizational team mediates this relationship. Task interdependence plays a positive cross-hierarchy moderating role in the relationship between DPOS and psychological ownership to the interorganizational team.

Practical implications

This research provides practical advice for support strategies of client and supplier organizations.

Originality/value

Results provide further understanding for outsourced employees’ psychological and behavioral mode in triangular employment contexts.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Funding: This work was supported by the Guangdong Philosophy and Social Science Foundation Project [Grant No. GD24XGL025]; the Department of Education of Guangdong Province [Grant No. 2023WTSCX039]; Guangxi Human Resources and Social Security Department [Grant No. GXRS-2024-404]; Guangxi Education Department’s Youth Capacity Enhancement Project [Grant No. 2023KY0002]; the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant No. 71832003]; National Natural Science Foundation of Youth [Grant No. 72002072; 71902046] and Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences in Guangxi Universities and the project of Guangxi Development Strategy Institute [Grant No. 2024GDSIYB16].

Citation

Qin, C., Wang, P. and Liu, S. (2024), "Differentiation in perceived organizational support and knowledge sharing of outsourced employees – a cross-hierarchy moderating model", Employee Relations, Vol. 46 No. 8, pp. 1648-1665. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-01-2024-0004

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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