Supervisor Effects on Employee Knowledge Sharing Behaviour in SMEs

Despite many studies on abusive supervisors in the organisation and management sciences, very little is known about their influence on employee knowledge sharing. Though the literature finds evidence of abusive supervision in big firms, the existing body of literature studying abusive supervision in SMEs is sparse. This study examines the influence of abusive behaviour by supervisors on their employees’ knowledge-sharing practices. We attempt to determine whether the quality or quantity of the knowledge shared is affected. Using a multiple mediation factor analysis, this study suggests that co-worker support and organisational support mediate the effect of abusive supervision on employees’ knowledge-sharing behaviours. The results obtained from 165 supervisors to subordinate dyads from 49 SMEs reveal that abusive supervision negatively affects employees’ quality and quantity of knowledge-sharing behaviour. Further, the implications and limitations of the study are presented with promising avenues for future research.