The Effects of Relative Performance Information and Transparency on Knowledge Sharing and Productive Effort

Bibliographic Data

ID19447398
AuthorsChristian Schnieder (0000-0002-3485-857X, University of Münster), Ivo Schedlinsky (0000-0003-1031-9894, University of Bayreuth), Friedrich Sommer (0000-0002-7697-2864, University of Bayreuth, corresponding author), Arnt Wöhrmann (0000-0003-4157-5401, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen)
Year2025
Volume34
Issue3
Pages1195-1220
Publication date2025-05-27
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueEuropean Accounting Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0963-8180 • E-ISSN: 1468-4497
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09638180.2024.2347638
OpenAlexW4396844985
LanguageEN
References cited62

Using a real-effort experiment, we investigate individuals’ simultaneous decisions regarding how much effort to exert and how to allocate this effort when working on a productive task (productive effort) and sharing knowledge (knowledge-sharing effort). Specifically, we examine the effects of relative performance information (RPI) and the transparency of individual knowledge-sharing decisions (transparency). We find that RPI increases productive effort but reduces knowledge-sharing effort over time. In contrast, transparency does not influence productive effort but increases knowledge-sharing effort. Furthermore, the results indicate that transparency can counteract the adverse effect of RPI on knowledge-sharing effort over time without impeding productive effort. We link our results to the psychological concepts of social comparison, impression management, and reciprocity. Implications for research and practice are discussed

Business · Computer security · Industrial organization · Information sharing · Knowledge management · Knowledge sharing · World Wide Web · Computer Science · Knowledge Management and Sharing · Organizational and Employee Performance · Technology Adoption and User Behaviour · Accounting

Tools

Open DOI