Compulsory citizenship behavior and knowledge sharing in higher education: a moderated mediation model

This study aimed to investigate the influence of compulsory citizenship behavior on knowledge sharing, considering the mediating effect of role overload and the moderating effects and resilience and passive leadership. We explored this relationship through the lens of social exchange theory and conservation of resource theory. Additionally, we investigated the moderating effects of passive leadership and resilience on these dynamics, highlighting their influence on knowledge sharing in educational settings. This study collected multi-source, multi-time, and multi-level data from 243 faculty members and 81 direct supervisors within the UAE higher education sector. Validity and reliability were examined through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) using AMOS. Hierarchical Linear Modelling (HLM) was then applied to test causal and moderation hypotheses. Subsequently, Hayes' PROCESS macro was employed, using Model#4 to test mediation hypotheses, Model 8#for moderated-mediation, and Model#12 for moderated-moderated mediation hypotheses. Findings confirm the relevance of compulsory citizenship behavior in acting as a strong precedent of role overload with the latter further impeding knowledge sharing. Our approach of exploring the combined effect of resilience and passive leadership categorically provides a comprehensive evaluation of how positive personal resources (resilience) can outperform the destructive effects of passive leadership on the compulsory citizenship behavior-role overload-knowledge sharing behaviour nexus. This study is the first to explore the moderating role of passive leadership and employee resilience on the relationship between compulsory citizenship behavior and knowledge sharing in the UAE.