Effect of interns’ learning willingness on mentors’ knowledge-sharing behavior

We examined the effect of interns’ learning willingness on the mentors’ knowledge-sharing behavior, and examined organizational incentives and mentors’ personality traits of openness and conscientiousness as moderators in this relationship. Participants were 180 mentor-intern dyads at 10 teaching hospitals in China. We found that interns’ willingness to learn had a significant positive effect on the knowledge-sharing behavior of mentors. The effect of organizational incentives on this relationship was dependent on the mentor’s personality, such that when mentors were low in either openness or conscientiousness, organizational incentives strengthened the relationship. Theoretical and managerial implications and directions for further research are discussed.