Online knowledge sharing and employee innovation: the role of job self-efficacy and innovative climate

Purpose This study aims to investigate how job self-efficacy mediates the relationship between online knowledge sharing and employee innovation. To fully understand this relationship, this study also tests the moderating role of an innovative climate. Design/methodology/approach This study gathered data from 353 full-time employees working at information technology companies in Vietnam. This study used structural equation modeling to test hypotheses. Findings The results showed that online knowledge sharing positively influenced employee innovation directly and indirectly through job self-efficacy. Moreover, innovative climate positively affected employee innovation as well as moderated the nexus between online knowledge sharing and employee innovation. Originality/value First, this study provides further evidence that job self-efficacy plays a mediator linking online knowledge sharing with employee innovation. Second, this paper confirms that an innovative climate can play a mixed moderator that not only influences employee innovation but also moderates the association between online knowledge sharing and employee innovation.