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Is more similar, better? Interacting effect of the cognitive‐style congruency and tacitness of knowledge on knowledge transfer in the mentor–protégé dyad
Author(s) -
Lin ChiaWu,
Kao MeiChin,
Chang KuoI
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
asian journal of social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.5
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1467-839X
pISSN - 1367-2223
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-839x.2010.01325.x
Subject(s) - dyad , psychology , cognition , tacit knowledge , knowledge transfer , style (visual arts) , association (psychology) , cognitive style , social psychology , cognitive psychology , knowledge management , computer science , psychotherapist , archaeology , neuroscience , history
This study explored the effects of cognitive‐style congruency on knowledge transfer in the mentor–protégé dyadic relationship and the moderating effect of tacitness of knowledge in this relationship. Using data from 148 sales personnel dyads, we found that the more congruent the cognitive style between a mentor and a protégé, the more effective the knowledge transfer between them. Moreover, the tacitness of knowledge moderated this association as expected. When the knowledge to be transferred was organized, systematic, and clear, this positive relationship was weakened. This relationship was particularly strong when the knowledge to be transferred was tacit, ambiguous, and unclear.