Employees’ Relationship, Knowledge Sharing and Employees’ Productivity- Evidence From an Emerging Economy’s Non-Quoted Manufacturing Firms

Abstract

This study appraised the influence of employees' relationships (ER) and
knowledge sharing (KS) on employees‘ productivity (EP) through the lens of
the Social Exchange and Knowledge Integration Theory (SEKIT). A
descriptive survey was adopted as the research design. Data for the study were
obtained from primary sources through the administration of structured
questionnaires. A sample size of 100 was randomly selected from employees
of non-quoted manufacturing firms in Osun State. Both correlation and
regression analyses were employed to analyze the data collected. The findings
show that employees‘ relationships (R² = 0.212, f = 23.358, p < 0.05) had a
positive
association
with
employees‘ productivity in non-quoted
manufacturing firms in Osun State. Additionally, the results indicate that KS
had a positive but weak correlation with EP (r = 0.260, p < 0.05).
Furthermore, the combined influence of ER and KS on EP was statistically
significant (R² = 0.319, f = 19.68, p < 0.05). These findings underscore the
importance of fostering positive relationships among employees and
cultivating a knowledge-sharing climate to enhance productivity, as
conceptualized within the framework of SEKIT.