How does power disparity drive information sharing in the digital age? — Evidence from centralized power contexts in Chinese enterprises

This study focuses on the mechanism that influence information sharing in the context of power centralization. The study treats power disparity as the independent variable, knowledge integration capability as the mediator, and information sharing as the dependent variable, with the digital technology application as the moderator, forming a theoretical model. Through empirical analysis of data from two-stage surveys of 562 participants from 75 teams, the study finds that power disparity does not directly promote information sharing and instead has a significant negative effect. However, power disparity positively affects knowledge integration capability, which in turn indirectly promotes information sharing. Additionally, digital technology application plays a significant moderating role in the relationship between power disparity and information sharing: on the one hand, digital technology positively moderates the relationship between power disparity and knowledge integration capability, thereby alleviating the negative effect of power disparity on information sharing; on the other hand, digital technology significantly suppresses the direct negative effect of power disparity on information sharing. These findings not only expand the theoretical boundaries of research on power disparity but also provide valuable insights for enterprises on how to promote information sharing and achieve organizational innovation by optimizing knowledge integration capability and strengthening the use of digital technology within centralized power structures.