High‐performance work systems, multiple commitments, and knowledge exchange and combination among Chinese public hospital nurses

Abstract

Abstract Aim This research explores and examines the differentiated mediation roles of multi‐foci commitment in the relationship between HPWS and knowledge exchange and combination among Chinese hospital nurses. Design This study employs a quantitative research approach and survey design. Methods Individual‐level time‐lagged data were collected from 845 nurses in public hospitals in China using online questionnaires. Aside from personal information, the items in the questionnaires were adopted from mature scales in previous research. Results The results of multiple regression analysis demonstrate that nurses’ professional and affective commitments partially mediate the relationship between HPWS and KEC. Nurses’ continuance commitment does not play a mediation role in HPWS‐KEC relationship, although HPWS positively influences nurse continuance commitment, which then weakly and positively impacts KEC.

Keywords

• Chinese public hospital nurse
• high‐performance work systems
• knowledge exchange and combination
• multi‐foci commitment