The mediating role of customer knowledge management on the innovative work behavior and product innovation relationship

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of the present research is to introduce a combined framework that integrates innovative work behavior, product innovation process and customer knowledge management; then, to explore the mediating effect of customer knowledge management in the relationship between innovative work behavior and the product innovation process.Design/methodology/approachThe basis for the present research is a cross-sectional design. Data collection from 154 employees occurred using the following structured questionnaires: Customer Knowledge Management (CKM), Innovative Work Behavior (IWB) and Product Innovation Process (PIP). Data processing used SPSS version 26.0, including the PROCESS (3.5) macro analysis.FindingsThe results show positive relationships between innovative work behavior and the product innovation process (r = 0.420, p < 0.01). Pearson's correlation shows a coefficient of 0.42, meaning that 42% of the variations in perceived product innovation are due to variations in innovative work behavior. The second condition of the mediation test involved testing the relationship between the independent variable (Innovative Work Behavior) and the mediating variable (Knowledge Management) and showed a significant relationship (r = 0.272, p < 0.01). The findings suggested that knowledge management that other determinants supported, such as collaboration in idea exploration, idea championing and encouragement of participation in idea implementation, significantly contributed to the product innovation process (r = 0.509, p < 0.01). The bootstrapping method confirmed that innovative work behavior supports product innovation through the mediation of customer knowledge management (z = 3.01, p = 0.002).Research limitations/implicationsThe cross-sectional design, along with the relatively low number of participants and the self-reporting nature of the questionnaires, represent the current study's main limitations. Developing the research model could integrate new variables, such as customer co-creation processes, performance-based compensation, employee citizenship activities and transformational leadership.Practical implicationsThis research has both theoretical and practical implications. These emphasize the importance of further investigation into the factors influencing companies' innovation processes. They also provide managers with a means of finding a fit between the deployment of customer knowledge mechanisms and the achievement of innovative workplace behavior, to improve innovation process efficiency.Originality/valueThe current study broadens the empirical research area of customer knowledge management and its impact on both innovative work behavior and the product innovation process, particularly in knowledge-intensive market scenarios that require organizations to be innovative.

New Product Development and Industrial Competitiveness in Industrial Sectors :A Systematic Literature Review

“…There was a total of twenty-three articles that fulfilled the criteria and were qualified in qualitative synthesis and quality assessment (Youssef & Webster, 2022;Prasetyo, Setyadharma, & Kistanti, 2020a;Silinevica et al, 2016;Prasetyo, 2019;Kazimierska and Grębosz, 2017;Ebarefimia, 2014;Makridis & McGuire, 2023;Manab & Aziz, 2019;Agustia, Haryanto, Permatasari, & Midiantari, 2022;Bansal & Sharma, 2022;Dzikowski, 2022;Prasetyo, Setyadharma, & Kistanti, 2020b;Wang, 2021;Abdulkareem & Naimi, 2022 Durmusoglu, 2007;Hemmert, 2023;Birasnav & Bienstock, 2019;Bratianu, Stănescu, & Mocanu, 2022;Chen, 2022;Sadeghi, Afrazeh, & Mahootchi, 2022;Ferreira, Coelho, & Moutinho, 2021).…”

“…Six articles emphasize the important role of consumer requirements, the creation of a product concept, the creation of a comprehensive design, testing, and commercialization of the product are some of the important stages that make up the new product development process (Youssef & Webster, 2022;Prasetyo et al, 2020a;Prasetyo, 2019;Bansal & Sharma, 2022;Agustia et al, 2022;Bratianu et al, 2022). For competitive companies to survive in the industrial sector and improve the quality of regional economic growth companies' competitiveness, it has to rely heavily on innovation in developing new products to maintain consumers.…”

Dynamics of Teleworking and Impact on Stakeholders in the Current Pandemic Context

“…There are examples of companies that have planned and approved telework protocols, mostly related to home/family factors and reorganization needs (job restructuring or technological innovation) [66]. Most companies that have previously implemented telework have included this practice in their collective agreements.…”

Knowledge management and innovativeness effects on product innovation in the textile context of Brazil

“…The confirmation of the relationships between the constructs of the theoretical model contributes by showing that Brazilian textile companies apply knowledge management processes to be innovative and implement their products innovation. Knowledge management, supported by determinants such as collaboration in idea exploration, idea advocacy, and encouraging participation in idea implementation, contributes significantly to the product innovation process (Bratianu, C., Stănescu & Mocanu, 2022). In other words, companies seek to update their product portfolios when launching products according to market trends and based on knowledge acquired, stored, and applied.…”

“…Recently, a study identified that knowledge management, supported by determinants such as collaboration in idea exploration, idea advocacy, and encouraging participation in idea implementation, contributed significantly to the product innovation process (Bratianu, C., Stănescu & Mocanu, 2022). Another study found that product innovation is a strategic driver in bridging the gap between knowledge management and performance for specific companies (Setiyono, Iqbal, Alfisyahr, Pebrianggara, & Shofyan, 2022).…”