Knowledge Hoarding is the practice of protecting and controlling information as a source of power or political currency rather than sharing it for collective benefit.
Why It Happens
People hoard knowledge when:
- Information equals power
- Sharing threatens position
- Political dynamics reward secrecy
- Systems don’t recognize contribution
- Trust is absent
The Costs
For Individuals:
- Isolated problem-solving
- Redundant efforts
- Slower learning
- Limited capability
For Organizations:
- Fragmented understanding
- Duplicated work
- Slower innovation
- Strategic blind spots
- Competitive disadvantage
Breaking the Pattern
Requires:
- Psychological safety
- Recognition for sharing
- Collaborative culture
- Distributed authority
- Trust building
When knowledge flows freely, collective capability multiplies. When it’s hoarded, everyone loses.