Developing a collaborative culture for radical and incremental innovation: the mediating roles of tacit and explicit knowledge sharing

Purpose This paper aims to examine the influence of collaborative culture on employee’s knowledge sharing and how it associated with radical and incremental innovation in Chinese firms. Design/methodology/approach This study used the quantitative approach and structure equation model to test hypotheses with data collected by questionnaire from 371 participants in 68 Chinese firms. Findings The research findings indicated that collaborative culture positively fosters the KS behaviors of employees for radical and incremental innovation. The findings confirm the mediating role of tacit and explicit knowledge sharing and reveal that collaborative culture has a significant impact on incremental innovation, whereas knowledge sharing behaviors have greater impacts on radical and incremental innovation. Research limitations/implications Future research should investigate the impact of collaborative culture on innovation under moderating effects of ownership form or mediating roles of behavioral variables to have better understanding on the relationship among them. Practical implications This study offers leaders a deeper understanding of the necessary factors and new pathways to stimulate employees’ tacit and explicit knowledge sharing for innovation. Originality/value The paper has significant contributed to theoretical and practical initiatives on the theory of innovation which highlighted the crucial role of collaborative culture in facilitating a positive climate for knowledge sharing and innovation.