Demystifying knowledge hiding in academic roles in higher education

This paper presents a novel conceptual map of how knowledge hiding is understood and practiced in the higher education context. Building on a review of the knowledge management literature, we first discuss the nature of knowledge, the conceptualization of knowledge hiding, and other related concepts. Next, we identify factors that are linked to knowledge hiding intention and behaviors at the individual, interpersonal and organizational levels based on three major roles of academics: teaching, research, and leadership-administration (or service), culminating with an original conceptual map. Finally, based on the conceptual map, we present propositions that warrant future research to advance understanding about knowledge hiding in the higher education context. Our review and conceptual map provide important implications to the knowledge management literature at large.

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