Lurking In Office WhatsApp Group: Examining the Role of Neuroticism, Knowledge Contribution Loafing, Fear of Losing Face, and Playing Dumb

Abstract

Introduction. WhatsApp group is ofen used as online communication among employees for achieving effectiveness and efficiency at work. However, they often passive and silent and may hardly contribute much to work-related discussions which known as lurking behavior. This study aim to measure whether a number of variables such as neuroticism, knowledge contribution loafing, fear of losing face, and playing dumb affect the lurking in the WhatsApp office group. Methods. Participants in this study were 600 employees from various cities in Indonesia. Multiple regression was carried out to measure the effect of each variable on the hole as the dependent variable. Results. The results showed R square = 0.615 which means, all independent variables have a large and significant contribution on lurking behavior. Although all the independent variables had a great influence on lurking, partially it appeared that only neuroitisism and fear of losing face had a significant effect on lurking. Discussion. Tasks at work are often delegated, shared, and discussed with work team members through WhatsApp groups. These conditions can encourage individuals with high neuroticism to withdraw from conversations in WhatsApp groups. It happens because that condition makes individuals with high neuroticism feel anxious, uncomfortable, and vulnerable to pressure as a result of work-related discussions in WhatsApp office groups. In addition, the fear of getting a negative response in the form of criticism from other group members, which includes personality, the fear of being wrong, and not believing in the environment, is a factor that must be considered in lurking behavior.

Keywords

• lurking
• neuroticsm
• knowledge contribution loafing
• fear of losing face
• playing dumb
• office whatsapp group