Knowledge Sharing in the Mining Sector: Unlocking Employee Ambidexterity Through Psychological and Environmental Mediating Factors

ABSTRACT

This study examines how and why individual knowledge sharing fosters ambidextrous behavior among nonmanagerial employees in an operationally intensive, environmentally sensitive industry. We conducted a survey of 243 operators across 10 plants of an international lime producer, finding that knowledge sharing is positively related to individual ambidexterity. This relationship is fully mediated by environmental consciousness, the dominant conduit, and by the meaning and impact dimensions of psychological empowerment. The study makes three contributions: First, by specifying which empowerment dimensions carry the motivational force of knowledge sharing, we extend self‐determination theory to the microfoundations of individual ambidexterity and reconcile conflicting evidence on the empowerment–ambidexterity link. Second, we introduce environmental consciousness as a cognitive‐identity mediator, connecting the strands of literature on knowledge management and environmental strategy at the individual level. Third, we expand the focus of individual ambidexterity research from managerial samples to a frontline workforce in a hard‐to‐abate heavy industry.