Purpose

This study aims to offer an empirical analysis to identify the relation between the adoption of knowledge management practices and the improvement of social innovation capabilities as an outcome of the knowledge sharing. Specifically, social innovation capabilities are triggered by knowledge-sharing enablers, such as intrinsic and extrinsic socially driven motivations.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a sample from 300 nonprofit organizations, the study explains causal relationships in terms of the multiplicity of triggers that act on a social innovation capability. The research applied the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method through SmartPLS 3.3 software. Data are collected from an online survey and highlight the employees’ and volunteers’ boost in nonprofit organizations to seek positive social change as a priority goal of their business model.

Findings

The results support the existence of a direct and positive relationship between knowledge-sharing enablers (i.e. intrinsic and extrinsic socially driven motivations), the mechanism of the formation of knowledge-sharing behaviors (an inside-out and outside-in process) and social innovation capabilities.

Research limitations/implications

The study combines the open innovation framework with social innovation activities and investigates the role of knowledge sharing in the building of social innovation capabilities. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the paper is the first attempt to describe a synergic framework, including open innovation literature, social innovation capability and knowledge-sharing processes.

Originality/value

This paper is a part of the research stream that focuses on the processes of distribution of knowledge flows along the boundaries of the organization. Thus, this study broadens the field of knowledge management and social innovation initiatives.

中文翻译：

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知识共享基层进程，构建社会创新能力

目的

本研究旨在提供实证分析，以确定知识管理实践的采用与作为知识共享结果的社会创新能力提高之间的关系。具体来说，社会创新能力是由知识共享促成因素触发的，例如内在和外在的社会驱动动机。

设计/方法/方法

该研究基于来自 300 个非营利组织的样本，根据作用于社会创新能力的触发因素的多样性来解释因果关系。该研究通过SmartPLS 3.3软件应用偏最小二乘结构方程建模（PLS-SEM）方法。数据是从在线调查中收集的，并突出了员工和志愿者在非营利组织中的推动力，以寻求积极的社会变革作为其商业模式的优先目标。

发现

结果支持知识共享促成因素（即内在和外在的社会驱动动机）、知识共享行为的形成机制（由内而外和由外而内的过程）和社会创新之间存在直接和积极的关系能力。

研究限制/影响

本研究将开放式创新框架与社会创新活动相结合，探讨知识共享在社会创新能力建设中的作用。据作者所知，本文首次尝试描述协同框架，包括开放式创新文献、社会创新能力和知识共享过程。

原创性/价值

本文是研究流的一部分，重点关注知识流沿组织边界分布的过程。因此，本研究拓宽了知识管理和社会创新举措的领域。