Influence of core self-evaluations on knowledge sharing behaviour with evaluation apprehension as a mediator

Abstract

Knowledge sharing among individuals is a crucial aspect for the success of knowledge management. Behaviour of individuals in an organisation plays an important role in ensuring its success and their behaviour differences are assumed to be influenced by personality traits. Based on the literature reviewed, there are limited studies on the relationship between personality traits and knowledge sharing behaviour. Therefore, this study examined the effect of core self-evaluations comprising broad personality traits represented by two dimensions: selfconscientiousness (positive dimension) and self-negligence (negative dimension) on knowledge sharing behaviour. Prior literature argued that evaluation apprehension is anxiety based on fear of negative evaluation and feedback and one of the obstacles in knowledge sharing. Thus, the study has extended previous research by examining the effect of evaluation apprehension on knowledge sharing behaviour. Individuals with a positive personality are able to face criticism and accept feedback more effectively but there has yet to be an attempt to draw a distinction between the effect of core self-evaluations and evaluation apprehension. Furthermore, based on the literature reviewed, studies on the role of evaluation apprehension as a mediator between core self-evaluations and knowledge sharing behaviour are scarce. In this quantitative study, 128 academic librarians from five public research universities in Malaysia participated in the survey. Multiple regression was used to analyze the data. The results show that self-conscientiousness had a positive relationship on knowledge sharing behaviour. However and surprisingly, self-negligence influence on knowledge sharing behaviour was not supported. The results indicated that a librarian with self-conscientiousness would have the intensity to cope with evaluation apprehension and share knowledge as compared to those with self negligence. As predicted, evaluation apprehension has been confirmed as the barrier in knowledge sharing behaviour. Finally, evaluation apprehension partially mediated the relationship between self-conscientiousness, self-negligence, and knowledge sharing behaviour. To sum up, findings of the study will add to the growing body of literature on knowledge sharing and librarianship research.