Purpose – This study aims to extend knowledge management and innovation scholarship by examining the direct and indirect effects of knowledge sharing on innovation performance through purposeful knowledge sharing. It further explores the contingent roles of absorptive capacity in shaping the link between knowledge sharing and purposeful knowledge sharing, and how perceived knowledge hoarding moderates the link between purposeful knowledge sharing and innovation performance. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected in three waves from 1,076 managerial-level employees working in Pakistan's information and communications technology industry. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized relationships and assess the proposed mediation and moderation effects. Findings – Grounded in the knowledge-based view and dynamic capabilities perspective, the findings suggest that both tacit and explicit knowledge sharing exert a positive influence on innovation performance, with purposeful knowledge-sharing practices acting as a crucial mediating mechanism. Moreover, absorptive capacity improves the positive influence of explicit knowledge sharing on innovation performance, but not that of tacit knowledge sharing. Notably, the study provides new empirical evidence that perceived knowledge hoarding attenuates the positive effect of purposeful knowledge sharing on innovation performance, highlighting a previously underexplored barrier to effective knowledge utilization. Originality/value – This research contributes to the knowledge management literature by introducing a novel integrative framework that connects knowledge sharing, purposeful knowledge sharing, absorptive capacity and perceived knowledge hoarding within a single explanatory model of innovation performance. By simultaneously examining value-creating and value-destroying knowledge dynamics, the study not only advances knowledge-process theory but also provides actionable insights for organizations seeking to foster innovation through effective knowledge management practices.
- Hoard or share
- Junaid Aftab (Author)Maria Rucsandra Stan (Author) - Università Carlo Cattaneo - LIUC, Research field: Management scienceNabila Abid (Corresponding Author)Feng Wei (Author)Alina Kiran (Author)
- Journal of knowledge management, pp.1-27
- 11/06/2026
- Emerald; Bingley
- 1367-3270; 1758-7484
- Online
- 27
- English
- Tutti i diritti sono riservati ai legittimi detentori del copyright. L'Università Carlo Cattaneo - LIUC pubblica i dati relativi alle pubblicazioni di ricerca realizzate dai propri affiliati. La presenza nell'archivio ARL di testi completi non determina in alcun modo la libera riproduzione degli stessi, ma esclusivamente la possibilità della loro consultazione sul sito di ARL.
- Research field: Management science
- Journal article
- 991001141130405126