Inhibition of knowledge hiding is a prerequisite to achieve benign knowledge interaction between employees in an organization. Existing researches on knowledge hiding mainly focus on the impact of hiding behavior, with little quantitative study of its antecedent variables. Based on the convergence perspective of the knowledge-based view, social exchange theory, this paper analyzes the impact of interpersonal trust on the knowledge hiding behavior, and verifies the moderating function of personal reputation concern and uncertain perception (environment uncertainty, motivational climate uncertainty, personal competency uncertainty). By a questionnaire survey to 450 employees from 267 companies in Liaoning, Shandong, Beijing and other provinces and municipalities, the authors empirically analyze 396 pieces of valid data. The result shows that:interpersonal trust can inhibit knowledge hiding behavior; personal reputation concern and perceived uncertainty play a remarkable moderating role in the interpersonal trust and knowledge hiding. Personal reputation concern, environmental uncertainty and motivational climate uncertainty have a remarkable joint-moderating effect on the relationships between interpersonal trust and knowledge hiding, but not on the personal competence uncertainty. The results are of certain significance in guiding the decision-making and management of knowledge hiding behavior.
