Unveiling interpersonal distrust as a mediator between contingent employees and knowledge hiding in international construction projects in the Gulf region

This study explores the dynamics of knowledge hiding (KH) within international construction projects (ICPs) in the Gulf region, with a focus on the influence of contingent employees (CEs) and interpersonal distrust (ID). It aims to understand how these factors influence KH and explore the mediating effect of ID on the relationship between CEs and KH. Through a survey distributed to ICP participants in the Gulf region, which yielded 157 complete responses, we applied structural equation modelling to test the research hypotheses. The results show the both significant influence of CEs and ID on KH, along with the partial mediating effect of ID on the CEs-KH relationship. While this study highlights the complex dynamics of KH in ICPs in the Gulf region, it also open avenues for future research to explore the influence of other contextual factors and organisational structures. This research are providing actionable insights for creating a transparent and inclusive culture of knowledge sharing (KS) in multicultural project teams, thereby enhancing project outcomes and organisational success. This study emphasises the importance of open communication, diverse team structures, and mentoring initiatives as critical to reducing KH and enhancing project collaboration, thus contributing to the overall success of ICPs.