Abstract:
This study investigates the relationship between competitive psychological atmosphere and
knowledge-hiding behavior. It examines how organizational justice influences the link between
knowledge hiding and psychological climate. Guided by the conservation of resources theory, this
study explores how a competitive environment affects employees’ knowledge-sharing tendencies and
how perceptions of justice can reduce this behavior. A survey of 271 employees from fashion retail
organizations in Karachi, Pakistan, was conducted, and data were analyzed using SPSS and
SmartPLS. Results show that a competitive psychological climate significantly increases knowledge
hiding, while organizational justice partially mediates this relationship. The study extends
organizational behavior literature by contextualizing international findings within Pakistan’s fashion
retail sector and emphasizing the role of fairness in curbing counterproductive behaviors. As the first
study to address knowledge hiding in this industry and region, it provides valuable insights into
managing knowledge behavior in competitive settings.
