Dimensionalized goal orientation, innovation climate, and knowledge sharing behavior in higher education research teams

Abstract

Knowledge sharing behavior (KSB) in the work process is governed by achievement goals and organizational environments. It is of great value to focus on whether achievement goal orientation can effectively predict the employees knowledge sharing in the context of team innovation climate. On the basis of the data from 29 scientific research teams in China's higher education, a multi-layer linear model is constructed to investigate the cross-level relationship. The study finds that learning goal orientation (LGO) and performance proof orientation (PPO) contribute to knowledge sharing, performance avoidance orientation (PAO) tends to be knowledge hiding, and their political skills (PS) consolidate the connections. Team innovation climate not only promotes knowledge sharing behavior, but also activates the traits related to individuals' shared behavior in performance proof orientation, which has enhanced the relationship between achievement goal orientation and knowledge sharing, but has no effect on learning goal orientation and performance avoidance orientation.

Keywords

• Higher education research team
• Goal orientation
• Knowledge sharing behavior
• Innovation climate
• Political skills
• Cross-level moderating effect