Opportunity-enhancing HRM practices and knowledge sharing behaviour: the mediating role of public service motivation

In response to a growing concern over an inadequate level of knowledge sharing among the academics in higher education institutions (HEIs), the study, drawing on the self-determination theory, aims to examine the role of opportunity-enhancing HRM practices and public service motivation (PSM) in promoting knowledge sharing behaviour (KSB) of academics. Using a self-administered questionnaire, data were conveniently collected from 203 full-time faculty members serving in 12 private HEIs in Bangladesh. The results based on the structural equation modelling indicate that two HRM practices (i.e., teamwork and employee participation) have direct effects on KSB; whereas job autonomy is insignificantly related with KSB. Moreover, PSM mediates the relationship between all the three HRM practices (i.e., teamwork, employee participation, and job autonomy) and KSB. The findings suggest that jobs should be designed around the opportunity-enhancing HRM practices to promote PSM and KSB among the academics in HEIs.