Knowledge sharing among innovative customers in a virtual innovation community: The roles of psychological capital, material reward and reciprocal relationship

The impact of entrepreneurial team psychological capital on innovation performance: The mediating role of knowledge sharing and knowledge hiding

Introduction

The important role of psychological capital on corporate innovation has attracted the attention of academics, more and more scholars have conducted related studies. Although most scholars have explored the mechanisms and paths of psychological capital on innovation performance, few scholars have explored the inner relationship between them from the perspective of knowledge management. Based on the knowledge management perspective, We explore the influence effect of the psychological capital of entrepreneurial teams on the innovation performance of startups in the entrepreneurial situation.

Methods

We conducted hypothesis testing using data from 113 Chinese entrepreneurial teams, and conducted reliability analysis, correlation analysis, and regression analysis on the questionnaire data with the help of SPSS software and AMOS software.

Results

The results showed that (1) entrepreneurial team psychological capital has a significant positive effect on innovation performance of startups; (2) entrepreneurial team psychological capital positively promotes their knowledge sharing behavior and reduces knowledge hiding behavior; (3) entrepreneurial team knowledge sharing and knowledge hiding play a partially mediating role between entrepreneurial team psychological capital and innovation performance of startups; (4)organizational innovation climate plays a moderating role in the influence of entrepreneurial team knowledge sharing and knowledge hiding on the innovation performance of startups.

Discussion

The findings are consistent with the hypothesis model proposed in this paper, indicating that as the psychological capital of entrepreneurial teams increases, the innovation performance of startups can benefit from higher levels of knowledge sharing and lower levels of knowledge hiding.

Motivational Understanding of MOOC Learning: The Impacts of Technology Fit and Subjective Norms

This study examines the mechanisms underlying the relationship between motivation and massive open online course (MOOC) learning intention, and the contextual moderators that affect this mechanism. Drawing on motivational theory and the related literature, this study investigates how motivation affects students' intention to learn with MOOCs and the related meditation and moderation effects. The findings of our study show that both extrinsic and intrinsic motivations have a significant influence on intention to learn with MOOCs. In addition, the results also suggest that the relationship between extrinsic motivation and intention to learn is mediated by the technology fit perceived by learners but not the relationship between intrinsic motivation and intention to learn. Furthermore, the relationships between both extrinsic and intrinsic motivation and intention to learn are moderated by subjective norms. This study enriches the extant literature on the impact of technology fit and subjective norms on MOOC learning. Few studies have focused on how students can be effectively encouraged to take MOOCs. Given the lack of theoretical and empirical research, this study developed a theoretical model and conducted an empirical study to fill the research gap.

Enablers of knowledge sharing for organizational sustainability: proposing a conceptual framework

Purpose

This study aims to propose a conceptual framework describing the relationship between enablers of knowledge sharing (KS) and organizational sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

An in-depth literature review based on preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses flowchart was conducted to identify the enablers of KS. The study develops a conceptual framework by assimilating enablers of KS on three levels: individual, technical and organizational, to attain organizational sustainability.

Findings

Enablers of KS are beneficial for organizations to enable problem-solving, better and faster decision-making, stimulating creativity and innovation, improved customers’ services and leveraging employees’ talent.

Research limitations/implications

Within organizational structure, KS can be fostered by a culture that encourages employees to generate novel and creative ideas.

Originality/value

The model of KS presented in this study is applicable to organizations in more complex and uncertain contexts, e.g. the postpandemic era to retain and sustain talented employees.

Examining Factor Structure and Validity of Psychological Capital and Its Relationship with Learning Orientation

This study aims to empirically examine the factor structure and validity of psychological capital in the Indian context. Further, it also examines the linkage of psychological capital with learning orientation. A quantitative methodology was adopted, and data were collected using a questionnaire from 700 employees of public sector research organisations, information and communication technology companies, and academic universities and colleges in India. The findings reveal that psychological capital construct has a four-factor second-order structure and a synergetic effect on outcomes, and its four factors are related but distinct constructs. The findings also confirm that psychological capital has significant positive influence on the learning orientation of members of the organisation. Further, the level of psychological capital was found to vary across gender, age, work experience and executive level but not with qualification. This research will add into theory a detailed understanding about psychological capital and its relationship with learning orientation. The findings suggest that management should emphasise on preparing psychological capital interventions and trainings based on specific target groups in order to gain sustainable competitive advantage.

Knowledge sharing of health technology among clinicians in integrated care system: The role of social networks

Promoting clinicians' knowledge sharing of appropriate health technology within the integrated care system (ICS) is of great vitality in bridging the technological gap between member institutions. However, the role of social networks in knowledge sharing of health technology is still largely unknown. To address this issue, the study aims to clarify the influence of clinicians' social networks on knowledge sharing of health technology within the ICS. A questionnaire survey was conducted among the clinicians in the Alliance of Liver Disease Specialists in Fujian Province, China. Social network analysis was conducted using NetDraw and UCINET, and the quadratic assignment procedure (QAP) multiple regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of knowledge sharing of health technology. The results showed that the ICS played an insufficient role in promoting overall knowledge sharing, especially inter-institutional knowledge sharing. Trust, emotional support, material support, and cognitive proximity positively influenced knowledge sharing of health technology, while the frequency of interaction and relationship importance had a negative impact on it. The finding extended the research scope of social network theory to the field of healthcare and will bridge the evidence gap in the influence of the clinicians' social networks on their knowledge sharing within the ICS, providing new ideas to boost knowledge sharing and diffusion of appropriate health technology.

Understanding physicians' motivations for community participation and content contribution in online health communities

Purpose

Since the success of online communities depend on physicians' participation, understanding factors that influence community participation and content contribution are critical for online health communities (OHCs). Drawing on the self-determination theory (SDT), an empirical model was proposed to explore the effects of social returns and economic returns on physicians' community participation, private content contribution and public content contribution, and the moderating effect of their online seniority. This paper aims to address these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical data of 4,343 physicians were collected from a Chinese OHC, and ordinary least squares (OLS) and negative binomial regression models were employed to verify the proposed theoretical model.

Findings

The authors’ results indicate that both social and economic returns have a positive effect on physicians' community participation and private content contribution, and their online seniority strengthens the positive effects of economic returns on community participation and private content contribution.

Originality/value

The authors’ research extends physicians' community participation by dividing content contribution into private and public, and enhances our understanding of the determinants of physicians' participation in OHCs by exploring the effects of social and economic returns, as well as the moderating effect of online seniority. Their findings contribute to the literature on e-Health and user participation, and provide management implications for OHC managers.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-11-2021-0615/

Consumer Online Knowledge-Sharing: Motivations and Outcome

As a new form of online reviews, Q&A reviews have been recently used by many e-commerce platforms to compensate for the weaknesses and problems related to trust and helpfulness found in traditional online reviews. This research documents what motivates people to share products or purchasing knowledge with others through Q&A reviews and why e-commerce platforms should place an emphasis on Q&A reviews. Importantly, our results provide evidence that, when receiving feedback (i.e., comments and likes), people are more likely willing to share knowledge with others and will have a higher level of loyalty. We believe that this study contributes to knowledge sharing and the e-commerce literature, and also has practical implications.

Relationship between Big Five personality traits and knowledge sharing behaviour: moderating role of Islamic work ethics

Purpose

The existence of intense competition in turbulent markets confirms the importance of using ethical employee practices in knowledge sharing behaviour (KSB) to ensure organisational growth. This is especially applicable in developing countries' markets where this intensive competition usually results in organisations following illicit practices. This paper aims to examine the relationship between the Big Five personality traits (i.e. openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism) and KSB using Islamic work ethics (IWE) as the moderator.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative research method using a survey instrument collected 182 responses from employees in the Pakistani telecommunication industry. The partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) was used to analyse the collected data.

Findings

The results found that IWE has a positive impact on KSB and a positive moderating impact on the relationship between the Big Five personality traits except neuroticism and KSB. Also, openness to experience and agreeableness positively impacted KSB.

Practical implications

This paper contributes to the field of human resource (HR) management by helping managers in the hiring process or developing employee's personalities. Additionally, policymakers are encouraged to create Islamic values platforms to increase KSB amongst employees.

Originality/value

This study indicates the importance of IWE in boosting the impact of personality on KSB and provides insights into IWE's role in enhancing an organisation's competitive advantages in turbulent markets.

Research on information dissemination of blockchain network community under the action of negative incentive mechanism

Traditional online communities suffer from false, repetitive or low-level content, with blockchain technology able to solve these problems. Specifically, the incentive mechanism is the blockchain’s core value, including positive and negative incentive mechanisms. The former strengthens people’s behaviour positively, while the latter, on the contrary, adopts mandatory methods such as punishment to eliminate the occurrence of certain types of behaviour. The negative incentive mechanism is the key factor to solve the problems presented above that traditional online communities face. Specifically, this article develops a solution that utilises the negative incentive mechanism, based on the classic infectious disease model (SIR model), introduces smart nodes, puts forward the SSIR model of information dissemination in the blockchain network community, and establishes a set of differential equations reflecting the information dissemination rules. Based on the parameter assumption and solving the equations with MATLAB, this article compares and reveals the changes of different user types on the SIR and SSIR models. Furthermore, we utilise the data collected from the Steemit blockchain community and Sina Weibo platform and apply the Social Network Analysis method to compare and analyse the information dissemination between the blockchain and the traditional network community. The research results highlight that the negative incentive mechanism in the blockchain network community affords a more rational behaviour of user information dissemination, a simpler interaction between users, and reducing to a certain extent the dissemination of ‘distorted’ or ‘uncertain’ information.

The Impact of Employees' Psychological Capital on Innovative Work Behavior: The Chain Mediating Effect of Knowledge Donating and Knowledge Collecting

This study aimed to test the mediating role of knowledge sharing, which includes two central processes of knowledge collecting and knowledge donating, in the relationship of psychological capital and innovative work behavior (IWB). The proposed theoretical framework was based on the theory of reasoned action and social exchange theory. In a field study, using a research sample of 345 valid leader-subordinate matching data, we tested three competitive models to explore the different mediating effects of knowledge collecting and donating. Results indicated that knowledge donating and knowledge collecting played a chain mediating role between psychological capital and IWB, and the independent mediating effect of knowledge collecting was also significant. From the perspective of knowledge sharing, the present study deeply analyzes the psychological processing mechanism of psychological capital on IWB, confirms the positive significance of knowledge donating at the individual level, and provides a new perspective for organizations to promote employees’ knowledge sharing and stimulate their IWB.

The influence mechanism of rewards on knowledge sharing behaviors in virtual communities

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of organizational rewards on two forms of knowledge sharing – explicit knowledge sharing and tacit knowledge sharing in virtual communities, and further to explore the mediating effect of intrinsic motivation on the effect of virtual community rewards on implicit knowledge sharing.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on relevant knowledge sharing theories, this study develops an integrated framework to explore virtual community rewards and tacit and explicit knowledge sharing in a virtual context. This study then collected data from 429 virtual community users in four virtual communities via an online survey. Hierarchical regression analyzes were used to test the proposed research model.

Findings

The results of this study show that virtual rewards have a significantly positive linear relationship with explicit knowledge sharing but have an inverse U-shape relationship with tacit knowledge sharing in virtual communities. In addition, intrinsic motivations including enjoyment and self-efficacy mediate the relationship between rewards and tacit knowledge sharing.

Practical implications

This study suggests more virtual community rewards may not always lead to more tacit knowledge sharing. Instead, too many rewards may weaken the motivation for tacit knowledge sharing. Knowledge management practitioners should make full use of the positive impact of self-efficacy and enjoyment to set up appropriate reward incentives to encourage knowledge-sharing, in particular, tacit knowledge sharing and to better manage virtual communities.

Originality/value

This study explores knowledge-sharing behavior in virtual communities, an important step toward more integrated knowledge-sharing theories. While online communities have become increasingly important for today’s knowledge economy, few studies have explored knowledge and knowledge sharing in a virtual context and this study helps to bridge the gap. In addition, this study develops an integrated framework to explore the mechanism through which virtual community rewards affect knowledge sharing with intrinsic motivation mediating this relationship in online communities, which further enriches the understanding on how to use virtual rewards to motivate knowledge sharing behaviors in the virtual context.

The Influence of Entrepreneurs' Psychological Capital on Their Deviant Innovation Behavior

This study explores the influence of psychological capital on the deviant innovation behavior, with the purpose of realizing the application and development of positive psychology in the field of innovation and creation. First, the data was obtained based on the questionnaire, and the Likert scale was adopted to measure the variables effectively, in which 1 point means “never,” 2 points mean “rarely,” and 5 points mean “always.” Second, the SPSS 26.0 statistical analysis software was adopted, and a statistical analysis was made on the correlation among deviant innovation, psychological capital, work values, and work remodeling. Third, the relationship between psychological capital and deviant innovation behavior was explored using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The results showed that the reliability of each scale is good, Cronbach’s α coefficients are all higher than 0.8, and the fitting effect of the four-factor model is the best, proving that the highest differentiation validity can be achieved using the proposed method. Furthermore, there are significant correlations among entrepreneur’s psychological capital, entrepreneur’s work values, and entrepreneurship work remodeling and deviant innovation behavior, among which the psychological capital and work values are the most correlated with deviant innovation. With the psychological capital of entrepreneurs as the adjustment variable and the interaction added, the explanation rate of the level equation is increased from 17 to 24.2%. Therefore, the psychological capital of entrepreneurs plays a very big role in regulating work values and deviant innovation behavior. In the current environment of innovation and entrepreneurship development, it is necessary for entrepreneurs to give full reign to the regulatory role of their own psychological capital, so as to promote the development of self-active deviant innovation activities and encourage employees to actively innovate and create.

A sustainable study of economic growth and development amidst ecological footprint: New insight from Nigerian Perspective

The current study presents the mitigation of Nigerian economic performance and ecological footprint with other selected variables in ascertainment of the contribution of the country in global fight to reduce global warming amidst competitive economic operations. The motivation behind this is due to the fact that the country's economy is majorly relying on two major sectors which are considered as emission-induced sectors. These sectors (petroleum and agricultural sector) are characterized by the excessive utilization of non-renewable sources of energy in operations. The findings from this study, both from the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) and Granger Causality (GC) perspectives aligns with the first stage of the theory (scale effect). Hence, both the economic growth and ecological footprint are increasing in the same pace. Among the findings from the ARDL regression are: a positive relation among income (GDP per capita) and the selected independent variables (ecological footprint, agric, FDI, energy use). Also, a negative relationship is revealed amid income and population of the country The findings from the causality test are: A one-way (Uni-directional) transmission is passed from economic growth (GDP per capita) to ecological footprint, from energy use to ecological footprint, from population to ecological footprint, from economic growth to energy use and from population to economic growth. It is evident that almost all the variables are causing the ecological footprint which aligns with the findings on ARDL regression. This has paved way for a well-articulated policy framing from the authorities of Nigeria with focus on the operations of both petroleum and agriculture. From the findings of this study, a well-structured policy is expected to be framed to curtail the growth based emissions in the Nigeria.

Online Community Value Co-creation

Purpose

Many companies strengthen their interaction with consumers by establishing online communities and bring convenience to value co-creation with consumers. Some companies use economic and social strategies to stimulate consumer value creation. However, the way to increase the effectiveness of such corporate strategies remains unclear. To address this challenge, this study investigates the impact patterns of economic and social strategies that influence consumers' value co-creation behaviour in firm-hosted online communities (FOCs). Moreover, the effective conditions for the value co-creation of the two strategies are explored.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from an FOC were collected for electronic communications products. A total of 1,305 second-hand data records on value co-creation activities were obtained. Then, an econometric model was built and Stata14.0 software was used for data analysis.

Findings

The effect of economic interaction strategy on the value co-creation in online communities is an inverted U-shaped model, and that of social interaction strategy is relatively stable and is not an inverted U-shaped model. Value creation initiatives introduced by enterprise personnel adopt economic strategies to improve effectiveness. On the contrary, value co-creation activities initiated by consumers use social strategies for the same purpose. Economic strategies are effective for large teams, whereas social strategies may lead to a “free rider” mentality.

Research limitations/implications

This study finds two important factors affecting the value co-creation in FOCs and their effective boundaries. However, other factors may also affect the online community value co-creation. Future research can further explore the intrinsic mechanisms of these strategies for value co-creation.

Practical implications

This article mainly discusses the influence of stimulation strategies on the value co-creation in an actual company community and exhibits good practical significance for the value co-creation activity and management in online communities. Firstly, corporate strategy is effective in communities, but this strategy requires proper control. Secondly, the company strategy must consider appropriate application conditions.

Originality/value

This study deepens the understanding of the impact of economic and social strategies on the value co-creation in FOCs and the effective boundaries of these impact patterns.

Emotional Factors Affecting Knowledge Sharing Intentions in the Context of Competitive Knowledge Network

This study deals with a competitive knowledge network (CKN) where participants desire to pass their personally important exams, and henceforth want to contribute and seek knowledge about exam-related issues they need to solve. Besides, CKN members are basically competing with each other since they all aim to pass the same exams. Therefore, from the contributor’s perspective, if the advisor fears that his/her advice can be detrimental to his or her own benefits, knowledge sharing (KS) intention within the CKN may be hindered by their expectation of competitive advantage. However, few studies were done about the effects of such fear and a sense of competition on KS continuance intention in the context of CKN. In this sense, our study aims to elucidate the effects of competition and fear on KS continuance intention in a mobile CKN. By using 296 valid questionnaires, we obtained very meaningful conclusions such that competition is a driving force rather than an obstacle to KS among CKN members, and fear also enhances members’ sustainable KS intention.

Evidence of the effects of psychological capital on the transfer of knowledge from accounting students to business organizations

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the effects of psychological capital on the transfer of knowledge from accounting students to business organizations. A descriptive study was carried out, with 210 students from the Accounting Sciences course of two universities of the Itajaí Valley, Santa Catarina, and a quantitative data approach.

Design/methodology/approach

To compose the sample, the academics who were attending from the third semester of the course and working in business organizations were exclusively selected. Data collection was carried out by means of a questionnaire. and the analysis was conducted with the aid of modeling of structural equations. Ten hypotheses were established to investigate the theoretical relations object of analysis and to reach the objective of the study, of which only three were refuted.

Findings

The results showed an indirect relation between psychological capital and knowledge transfer, mediated by the acquired knowledge and the absorptive capacity of the students. It has been found that accounting academics transfer knowledge to the business organizations in which they work, which indicates that their experiences, skills and knowledge gained from the studies, are put into practice in their workplace. This transfer of knowledge depends on the knowledge acquired, the students’ absorptive capacity and, indirectly, on their psychological capital. In general, it was verified that motivational factors can contribute to the transfer of knowledge.

Originality/value

In general, it was verified that motivational factors can contribute to the transfer of knowledge, however, unlike that found in other studies developed on the subject, these are not direct determinants to the transfer of knowledge, being elements predictors for it to occur learning through its acquisition, which will influence this transfer. Thus, in the sample investigated, the evidences found revealed that the motivation for learning indirectly influences the transfer of knowledge, through the acquired knowledge.

Understanding online knowledge community user continuance

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to draw on the social cognitive theory to identify the determinants of online knowledge community user continuance, which reflects a user’s continued use.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the 271 valid responses collected from a survey, structural equation modelling was employed to examine the research model.

Findings

The results indicated that the cognitive factors of outcome expectation and the environmental factors of system quality and knowledge quality significantly affect a user’s continuance intention, which, in turn, affects continuance usage.

Research limitations/implications

The results imply that service providers need to enhance community platforms and improve knowledge quality in order to retain users and facilitate their continuance.

Originality/value

Although previous research has examined online knowledge community user behaviour from multiple perspectives such as the social exchange theory and the motivational theory, it has seldom explored the relative effects of personal cognitions and environmental factors on user behaviour. This research fills the gap.