The Role of Ego Depletion and Autonomy in the Relationship Between Time-pressure and Knowledge-based Behavior

This research explored the mechanisms by which time-pressure may influence differentknowledge-based behavior, e.g., knowledge sharing and knowledge hiding. Based on the strengthmodel of self-control, we proposed that ego depletion may explain why time-pressure maydecrease knowledge sharing and increase knowledge hiding. Moreover, based on the job demandcontrol model, we also proposed that job autonomy would weaken the positive associationbetween time-pressure and ego depletion. To test our hypotheses, we conducted a daily diary studyover ten workdays. We recruited ۲۴ employees from a post-graduate class in a university inMyanmar to participate in our study and made ۱۵۳ observations. We found that time-pressure wasassociated with increased ego depletion. We also found a positively but marginally significantassociation between time-pressure and evasive knowledge hiding and playing dumb knowledgehiding. A small negative mediation effect of ego depletion was found on the relationship betweentime-pressure and knowledge sharing. Moreover, we found a significant moderation effect of jobautonomy on the relationship between time-pressure and ego depletion. This study contributes toextant research by exploring for the first time the underlying mechanisms by which time-pressureinfluences knowledge sharing and clarifying the mixed results found in previous studies of therelationship between time-pressure and knowledge hiding