Purpose

The purpose of this research is to examine the impact of crowdsourcing-based social connections on the development of innovation competence (IC). The conflicting results in existing studies regarding the influence of crowdsourcing-based social linkage on IC necessitate a thorough investigation into this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The research uses a sample of 300 senior managers from various industries in India. The data is analyzed using partial least squares (PLS), a component-based approach to structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results of the analysis indicate that knowledge transfer effectiveness and absorptive capacity (ABC) play a significant role as mediators in the relationship between social linkages based on crowdsourcing and IC. This suggests that the effectiveness of knowledge transfer and the organization’s ability to absorb and apply new knowledge are crucial factors in leveraging crowdsourcing-based social connections for enhanced innovation capabilities.

Practical implications

The findings of this study hold crucial implications for managerial practices. The research highlights that successful crowdsourcing outcomes necessitate more than mere establishment of external social linkages. Managers must recognize that internal organizational readiness plays an equally critical role. This study offers two key managerial insights: first, exclusive focus on external linkages is inadequate; internal capabilities such as ABC and optimized knowledge transfer processes must be actively nurtured. Second, the concept of “crowdsourcing maturity” is introduced, emphasizing the evolving dynamic capabilities over time. Managers are urged to adopt a balanced approach, aligning external partnerships with internal adaptability, to fully optimize IC.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by shedding light on the mediating variables that influence the conversion of crowdsourcing-based social linkage into improved IC. By considering the role of knowledge transfer effectiveness and ABC, the study provides insights into the mechanisms through which social linkages based on crowdsourcing can impact innovation capabilities. These findings offer valuable implications for organizations seeking to leverage crowdsourcing for innovation purposes and enhance their overall IC.

中文翻译：

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基于众包的社会联系和组织创新能力：作为串行中介的知识转移有效性和吸收能力

 目的

本研究的目的是探讨基于众包的社会关系对创新能力（IC）发展的影响。关于基于众包的社会联系对 IC 的影响，现有研究结果相互矛盾，因此有必要对这种关系进行彻底调查。

设计/方法论/途径

该研究使用了来自印度各行业的 300 名高级管理人员作为样本。使用偏最小二乘法 (PLS) 分析数据，这是一种基于组件的结构方程建模方法。

 发现

分析结果表明，知识转移有效性和吸收能力（ABC）在基于众包和IC的社会联系之间发挥着显着的中介作用。这表明知识转移的有效性以及组织吸收和应用新知识的能力是利用基于众包的社会联系来增强创新能力的关键因素。

 实际影响

这项研究的结果对管理实践具有重要意义。研究强调，成功的众包成果需要的不仅仅是建立外部社会联系。管理者必须认识到，组织内部的准备程度也发挥着同样重要的作用。这项研究提供了两个关键的管理见解：首先，仅仅关注外部联系是不够的；必须积极培养诸如ABC和优化知识转移流程等内部能力。其次，引入了“众包成熟度”的概念，强调随着时间的推移不断发展的动态能力。管理者应采取平衡的方法，将外部合作伙伴关系与内部适应性相结合，以充分优化 IC。

 原创性/价值

这项研究通过揭示影响基于众包的社会联系转化为改进的 IC 的中介变量，为现有的知识体系做出了贡献。通过考虑知识转移有效性和ABC的作用，该研究提供了对基于众包的社会联系影响创新能力的机制的见解。这些发现为寻求利用众包进行创新并增强其整体 IC 的组织提供了宝贵的启示。