Grounding on the relative deprivation theory, the current study aimed to investigate the relationship between perceived over-qualification and knowledge sabotage. The alienative commitment was taken as a mediator in the relationship between perceived over-qualification and knowledge sabotage. The dark side of LMX was considered by proposing its moderating role to strengthen the indirect effect of perceived over-qualification and knowledge sabotage through alienative commitment.
The data were collected in three-time waves from Pakistani service sector organizations. The data for KS was only peer-reported. Hayes process macro seven was utilized to test the moderated mediation links.
The results supported all the proposed direct effects. Moreover, alienative commitment served as a mediator between POQ and knowledge sabotage. Further, high levels of LMX strengthened the positive relationship between perceived over-qualification and alienative commitment. Additionally, high levels of LMX strengthened the indirect effect by aggravating the sense of deprivation.
The current study adds to the literature on relative deprivation theory by examining perceived over-qualification with knowledge sabotage, an understudied relationship. Moreover, the alienative commitment was taken as a mediator, and this adds to the limited literature despite its three-decade-old operationalization. In addition, ample literature is available on the positive role of LMX, but its dark side still needs attention in the literature, as a few studies focused on its dark side, and the current study is one of them.
