Journal of Engineering, Project, and Production Management, 2026, 16(3), 2025-217
Negative Workplace Gossip, Self-Esteem, and Knowledge Hiding in Project Management
1 Lecturer,
ElGazeera High Institute for Computer and Management Information
Systems, Department of Business Administration, English Section, Cairo,
Egypt, Email: Shahendasaidhabib@gmail.com
2 Professor of Business
Administration, Business Administration Department, University of
Buraimi, Sultanate of Oman, E-mail: wael.z@uob.edu.om
3 Professor, Department of Human
Resources Management, College of Business, King Khalid University, Abha
61471, Saudi Arabia, E-mail: oelsawy@kku.edu.sa
4 Assistant Professor, Department
of Business Administration, Buraydah Colleges, Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia,
E-mail: Amr.Nour@bpc.edu.sa (corresponding author) .
5 Assistant Professor, Department
of Management Technology and Business, Port Said University, Port Said
Governorate, Egypt, E-mail: Mohamedsobhy@himc.psu.edu.eg
6 Assistant Professor, Department
of Business Administration, Faculty of Business Administration, Sinai
University, Egypt, E-mail: reem.nessim@su.edu.eg
Project Management
Received September 30, 2025; revised November 11, 2025; accepted November 19, 2025
Available online April 8, 2026
Abstract: Across industries worldwide, managing intangible human-related risks has become critical for sustaining project governance and production efficiency. This study identifies and empirically tests a critical gap in project and production management literature by linking interpersonal behaviors such as Negative Workplace Gossip (NWG) to Knowledge Hiding (KH) and Organization-Based Self-Esteem (OBSE). NWG is conceptualized as a risk that undermines communication, depletes psychological resources, and disrupts knowledge transfer. A cross-sectional survey of 308 employees was analyzed using SPSS and PROCESS Macro. The results demonstrate that NWG significantly reduces OBSE and increases KH, while OBSE partially mediates this relationship. Collectivism moderates both the direct and indirect effects, weakening the negative influence of NWG on OBSE and its positive effect on KH. These findings fill a contextual gap by extending Conversation of Resource (COR) theory into project-based environments and comparing implications for collectivist cultures such as Saudi Arabia with broader global project management settings. From a practical standpoint, the findings suggest that project managers need to address gossip and knowledge hiding as hidden project risks, promote OBSE, and leverage collectivism values. Conflict management training, transparent communication systems, and organizational culture interventions can mitigate gossip-driven risks. As part of Saudi Vision 2030, the research demonstrates how managing interpersonal interactions can foster improved communication and innovation. Although the empirical context is Saudi Arabia, the conceptualization of hidden risks in projects has broader relevance for international project management.
Keywords: Negative workplace gossip, knowledge hiding, organization-based self-esteem, collectivism, project governance, project management, human Factors.
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Citation: Habib, S. S., Elshanhaby, W. Z. E., Elsawy, O., Noureldin, A., Aboueldahab, M., and Elbolok, R. (2026). Negative Workplace Gossip, Self-Esteem, and Knowledge Hiding in Project Management. Journal of Engineering, Project, and Production Management, 16(3), 2025-217.
