BRIEFING Employees concealing knowledge, cryptocurrency investment and the launch of a cross-continental healthcare management programme feature among our latest selection of updates. Complied by Tim Banerjee Dhoul, Ellen Buchan and Colette Doyle THE LATEST NEWS FROM ACROSS BGA’S NETWORK Business
STUDY REVEALS HIDDEN DEPTHS OF KNOWLEDGE-SHARING AT WORK
phenomenon of ‘knowledge hiding’ and offer guidance to leaders wishing to curb the problem. Based on three surveys, its results reveal that men are more likely than women to intentionally conceal knowledge from colleagues. Specifically, men are more likely to engage in ‘rationalised hiding’, where one admits to concealing knowledge and cites a reason, such as privacy or confidentiality. Women are less likely to conceal information in this way, the research reasons, because society expects them to be caring and helpful. As such, any deviation from this carries the risk of unfavourable peer reactions. When women do engage in such behaviour, it is by use of ‘evasive hiding’, where information given is deliberately incorrect or incomplete. They might
also ‘play dumb’ and pretend not to know the answer to a request. The latter carries an even greater risk for women, the study says, as it can reinforce the stereotype of them lacking competence. The study’s conclusion is that managers must discourage practices likely to foster male tendencies towards knowledge hiding, such as those over- emphasising competition and goal achievement. It also recommends that leaders challenge gender-based stereotypes relating to competency and alleviate social expectations affecting female employees. Co-authored with Paola Zappa from University College London’s Global Business School for Health, the study was published in the Journal of Occupational and Organisational Psychology . TBD
SCHOOL Maynooth University School of Business COUNTRY Ireland
haring information and expertise at work is vital for efficiency and innovation.
S
However, some employees engage in hiding knowledge for reasons that might include competitiveness, organisational climate and their own personality. A recent study, led by Maynooth University School of Business associate professor Tatiana Andreeva, sought to find out who partakes in the
6 Business Impact • ISSUE 1 • 2024
Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online