Behind the facade of hospitality: The impact of manipulative and self-serving traits on knowledge sharing in hotel employees

This study explores how the dark triad personality traits (Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) affect knowledge hiding among five-star hotel employees in Taiwan, while also examining the moderating role of workplace friendship. Data were gathered across two separate stages: at Time 1 (T1), participants completed a questionnaire measuring dark triad traits, workplace friendship, and control variables; two weeks later (T2), they completed a second questionnaire assessing knowledge hiding behaviors. A total of 720 questionnaires were distributed, and 422 valid responses were received, yielding a response rate of 58.61 %. Results indicate that Machiavellianism and narcissism are positively associated with knowledge hiding, whereas psychopathy is negatively related. Workplace friendship was found to weaken the positive relationship between Machiavellianism and knowledge hiding and strengthen the negative relationship between psychopathy and knowledge hiding. However, it didn't significantly moderate the link between narcissism and knowledge hiding. The work concludes with managerial implications and suggestions for future study.