An Investigation of Knowledge Sharing from a Social Capital Perspective: How Social Capital and Growth Needs Affect Tacit Knowledge Acquisition and Individual Satisfaction

[[abstract]]This study examines the effects of social capital and growth needs on individual knowledge acquisition within software project teams through the adoption of a multi-informant questionnaire approach. The results indicate that social capital is helpful in tacit knowledge acquisition, which in turn leads to higher satisfaction. In particular, the relationship between affect-based trust and team satisfaction is not significant but mediated by tacit knowledge acquisition. The effect of affect-based trust on tacit knowledge acquisition is not contingent on growth needs. However, the relationship between shared values and tacit knowledge acquisition is stronger among individuals who possess a low level of growth needs. Several managerial implications and limitations are proposed