Linking social capital and knowledge sharing: the moderating role of meaningful work with the mediation of emotional energy

Abstract

Purpose

Knowledge sharing contributes to the success of an organization in various ways. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of social capital on knowledge sharing through employees’ emotional energy. In addition, this study investigates the moderating effect of meaningful work in the relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative and cross-sectional approach was performed to collect the data from 403 employees working in information technology (IT) enterprises in Vietnam. This study applies partial least squares structural equation modeling to access the impact of social capital on knowledge sharing, the mediating effect of emotional energy and moderating role of meaningful work on this relationship.

Findings

The results show that social capital has a significant positive effect on knowledge sharing. Moreover, employees’ emotional energy has a complementary effect on this relationship. Moreover, meaningful work has moderating effect on the relationship between social capital and knowledge sharing.

Practical implications

The findings of this study provide valuable evidence and implications for the executive of IT enterprise in boosting knowledge sharing among the employees, in improving their emotional energy, perception of the meaningfulness of their jobs. This is particularly important due to the significant role of knowledge sharing in innovation, development.

Originality/value

Based on a social perspective of knowledge management, this study pioneers the exploration of the mediating effect of employees’ emotional energy in the relationship between social capital and knowledge sharing and the moderating role of meaningful work.

Citation

Tran Pham, T.K. (2022), "Linking social capital and knowledge sharing: the moderating role of meaningful work with the mediation of emotional energy", VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/VJIKMS-04-2022-0116