How does enterprise social network affects open innovation performance? From the dual perspective of inter- and intra-organisation

ABSTRACT

Over the last decades, open innovation has received considerable attention. The purpose of this study is to examine the influence mechanism of enterprise social networks on open innovation performance from the dual perspective of inter- and intra-organisation. Structural equation model was used to test on a sample of 311 enterprises from Mainland China. Results show that external social network exerts a positive effect on open innovation performance through the mediation of external knowledge management capability. Internal social network positively affects open innovation performance via the mediating role of internal knowledge management capability. The interaction of external and internal social network enhances open innovation performance through the dual mediating effects of external and internal knowledge management capability. Furthermore, inter-organisational contract control plays a moderating role in the relationship between external knowledge management capability and open innovation performance. Intra-organisational professional control exhibits a moderating effect on the relationship between internal knowledge management capability and open innovation performance.

KEYWORDS:

• Enterprise social network
• knowledge management capability
• organisational control
• open innovation performance‌

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study is supported by Humanities and Social Science Fund of Ministry of Education of China (21YJA630040) and Program for Jilin University Science and Technology Innovative Research Team.

Notes on contributors

Zhaoyuan Yu

Zhaoyuan Yu is a PhD student at the School of Management, Jilin University. Her research interests include innovation management and knowledge management.

Haiqing Yu

Haiqing Yu is an associate professor at the School of Management, Jilin University. His research interests include open innovation and knowledge management.

Lingwei Zhang

Lingwei Zhang is a master student at the School of Management, Jilin University. Her research interests include innovation management and knowledge transfer.

Zhicong Wu

Zhicong Wu is a master student at the School of Management, Jilin University. His research interests include innovation management and knowledge transfer.

Xiaowei Ju

Xiaowei Ju is a Professor at the School of Management, Jilin University. His research interests include innovation management and knowledge transfer.