The Underlying Process Through Which Knowledge Transfer and Learning are Influenced in Family Firms

Drawing on the similarity-attraction paradigm, the present study examined the mediating roles of absorptive capacity (cognitive capability component), liking (affective component), and relational identification (relational component) in accounting for the effects of perceived similarity on knowledge transfer and employee learning. Data used to test the proposed theoretical framework were collected over two separate time intervals and consisted of a sample of 216 supervisor-subordinate dyads from family-owned enterprises. The results demonstrated that perceived similarity positively influenced knowledge transfer and employee learning indirectly through its impact on affect and supervisor identification, respectively. Implications to theory, practice, and future research are discussed.