Browsing by Person "Gerpott, Fabiola H."

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Conquering knowledge exchange barriers with age differences: a stress appraisal perspective on the consequences of upward social comparisons
(2025) Rinker, Laura; Fasbender, Ulrike; Gerpott, Fabiola H.; Burmeister, Anne
Knowledge exchange is crucial for organizations, but interpersonal dynamics can entail stress, affecting whether and how knowledge flows. Integrating social comparison and stress appraisal research, we propose that upward social comparison can be appraised as challenging or hindering. We suggest a dual pathway model involving an approach pathway via challenge appraisal and an avoidance pathway via hindrance appraisal with consequences on three knowledge exchange behaviours (i.e., knowledge sharing, knowledge seeking and knowledge hiding). Additionally, we examine age differences (vs. no age differences) to the comparison target as a buffer. We conducted two preregistered experimental online studies with employees (NStudy 1 = 206, NStudy 2 = 414), utilizing a 2 (social comparison; upward, lateral) × 3 (target age; younger, same‐age, older) between‐subject design. Participants received bogus task performance feedback (Study 1: cognitive ability test; Study 2: typing ability test). Both studies show that upward social comparison (but not other social comparison directions) fosters knowledge hiding via hindrance appraisal. This effect is weakened by an age difference (vs. no age difference) to the comparison target. However, our results do not support the approach pathway via challenge appraisal. Our research highlights social pitfalls in knowledge exchange and emphasizes the benefits of age differences between colleagues.
Why do or don't older employees seek knowledge from younger colleagues? A relation–opportunity model to explain how age‐inclusive human resources practices foster older employees' knowledge seeking from younger colleagues
(2021) Fasbender, Ulrike; Gerpott, Fabiola H.
Knowledge‐related interactions between older and younger employees are crucial for business success. Although research has contributed much to understanding why older employees share knowledge with younger colleagues, little is known about older employees' motivation to seek knowledge. In this study, we answer the question of how age‐inclusive human resources (HR) practices can foster older employees' knowledge seeking from younger colleagues. Drawing on social learning theory that conceptualises learning‐oriented behaviour (i.e. knowledge seeking) as being inextricably linked to social context and person‐related factors, we develop a dual pathway relation–opportunity model outlining how age‐inclusive HR practices foster older employees' development striving, which, in turn, promotes knowledge seeking from younger colleagues. On the one hand, we propose a relation‐based pathway that identifies contact quality with younger colleagues as a socio‐emotional mechanism linking age‐inclusive HR practices with knowledge seeking via development striving. On the other hand, we suggest an opportunity‐based pathway that identifies older employees' future time perspective as a person‐related mechanism. We find support for our hypotheses in a sample of 502 older employees who participated in a three‐wave survey. We discuss theoretical implications and encourage scholars to further shift the conversation towards an inclusive perspective that overcomes stereotypical views of older employees.