Minimizing the effects of defensive routines on knowledge hiding though unlearning

Knowledge hiding is an activity that often comes naturally to humans. When we are children, our parents hide certain information to protect us. As we age, we learn to develop defensive routines to protect ourselves and our weaknesses through knowledge hiding. In this study, intentional unlearning are assemblages of knowledge structures that individuals engage in to put aside certain number defensive routines and thus minimize their effects on hiding or misapplication of knowledge. This study analyses the applicability of an unlearning model focused on the effects of defensive routines on knowledge hiding. The empirical research is conducted with 122 airline travelers using two surveys (one in Spanish and the other in English). Since the travelers flew during the pandemic, they would have experienced first-hand the presence of defensive routines in the face of the new sanitary and safety measures. Data is analyzed using SmartPLS 3 for Windows. The results suggest that intentional unlearning is negatively related to defensive routines and furthermore that these routines are positively related to knowledge hiding. The results stand to improve the quality of service within airports and are beneficial for organizations undergoing change initiatives.