Minority Dissent and Knowledge Sharing: Building the Case for Discrepant Knowledge Sharing In Problem Solving Teams

Abstract

Knowledge sharing is the key to collaborative problem solving by teams. Minority dissent occurs when a small group in a team publicly opposes the views, beliefs and opinion of the majority. Although the dissenting minority is thought to suffer from considerable strain due to their deviant views, it has been credited with boosting problem solving and innovation in teams. The impact of minority dissent on knowledge sharing by problem solving teams has evaded researchers’ attention so far. Discrepant knowledge sharing is the act of sharing contradictory or oppositional knowledge by a dissenting minority in a team. This article fills in the gap in research by building the case for discrepant knowledge sharing through review of literature. The differences of the focal construct from other related constructs are discussed. The article ends with recommendations for future research and a note on the practical implications of the study.