TITLE:
A Literature Review on Knowledge Hiding
AUTHORS:
Siqi Bai
KEYWORDS:
Knowledge Hiding, Knowledge Hoarding
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.16 No.4,
April
20,
2026
ABSTRACT: This paper presents a comprehensive literature review on knowledge hiding (KH), a prevalent yet detrimental organizational behavior. It begins by defining KH as the intentional concealment or withholding of requested knowledge, distinguishing it from related concepts like knowledge hoarding, sharing, and counterproductive work behaviors. The review identifies three primary dimensions of KH: evasive hiding, playing dumb, and rationalized hiding, and outlines the commonly used measurement scales. It then systematically synthesizes the antecedents of KH, categorized into individual factors (e.g., prosocial motivation, psychological safety, territoriality), interpersonal factors (e.g., interactional justice, task interdependence), and organizational factors (e.g., ethical leadership, abusive supervision, knowledge sharing climate). Additionally, the review examines the negative outcomes of KH, including reduced employee performance (creative, extra-role, and task performance), decreased job satisfaction, increased turnover intention, and the fostering of distrust and reciprocal knowledge hiding. Finally, the paper discusses the theoretical and practical implications of understanding KH, highlighting its significance for organizational management and future research directions.