The strategic advantage of withholding organizational knowledge during onboarding

Purpose The purpose of this study is to contribute to current discussions on onboarding by specifying the contingent factors that influence the strategic advantage of withholding organizational knowledge from newcomers during onboarding. Design/methodology/approach This is a study with a practical focus that builds on existing literature on onboarding and knowledge in organizations. Findings This study proposes four contingent factors, namely, knowledge types, organizational mechanisms, newcomer readiness and strategic timing, that influence the strategic advantage of withholding organizational knowledge from newcomers during onboarding. Originality/value This study provides a contingency framework that clarifies what knowledge should be withheld by organizations to balance integration and innovation during onboarding.