Abusive supervision and the knowledge worker productivity: the mediating role of knowledge management processes
Journal of Knowledge Management
ISSN: 1367-3270
Article publication date: 18 May 2021
Issue publication date: 7 December 2021
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing upon the theoretical underpinning of knowledge worker productivity, this study aims to examine the relationship between abusive supervision and knowledge management (KM) process (creation, application and sharing of knowledge) and its impact on the knowledge worker productivity in knowledge-intensive organizations.
Design/methodology/approach
Hypothesis were tested through PROCESS Macro in IBM SPSS v.26 on a sample of 204 employees working in banking sector of Pakistan. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to test the model fitness through AMOS v. 26.
Findings
The results showed that the relationship between abusive supervision and KM process (creation, application and sharing of knowledge) is negative and highly significant, i.e. greater the abusive supervision in the banking sector, the lower is the engagement in KM processes. Furthermore, there is a positive and highly significant relationship between the KM process and knowledge worker productivity. Finally, the study indicates the negative impact of abusive supervision on the knowledge worker productivity through the mediating mechanism of knowledge management processes.
Research limitations/implications
A key limitation is that the study is cross-sectional, and the findings may only be generalizable to developing countries context.
Originality/value
Previous studies have focused on supervisor–employee relationship but not in the context of knowledge worker productivity. This article fulfills this gap through understanding the impact of abusive supervision on the knowledge worker productivity in relation to KM processes (knowledge creation, sharing and application) by drawing upon the theoretical underpinning of knowledge worker productivity.
Keywords
Citation
Ahmed, Q., Sumbal, M.S., Akhtar, M.N. and Tariq, H. (2021), "Abusive supervision and the knowledge worker productivity: the mediating role of knowledge management processes", Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 25 No. 10, pp. 2506-2522. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-08-2020-0632
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited