How does corporate social responsibility contribute to innovation performance? The moderating role of social media strategic capability and big data analytics capability
European Journal of Innovation Management
ISSN: 1460-1060
Article publication date: 10 August 2023
Issue publication date: 21 January 2025
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on innovation performance and examine the moderating role of social media strategic capability and big data analytics capability. Specifically, the authors explore the effects of both external and internal CSR on innovation performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors collected data from 221 senior, middle and research and development (R&D) managers of high-tech firms in China, using a questionnaire survey with a six-month interval.
Findings
The empirical results show that both external and internal CSR positively influence innovation performance. Furthermore, social media strategic capability has a positive moderating effect on the relationship between CSR and innovation performance, while big data analytics capability moderates the relationship between external CSR and innovation performance.
Research limitations/implications
The data comes from high-tech firms in China, which may limit the generalizability and external validity of the findings. Future studies should replicate this study in other industries and types of organizations.
Practical implications
The study suggests that high-tech firms should engage in both external and internal CSR activities to promote innovation performance. Moreover, leveraging social media strategic capability and big data analytics capability can enhance innovation performance.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature on CSR outcomes by empirically exploring the effects of external and internal CSR on innovation performance, thus extending stakeholder theory. Additionally, by revealing the contingency effects of social media strategic capability and big data analytics capability, this study enriching the research on dynamic capabilities theory in the context of digital transformation.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by the Late Funded Project of National Social Science Foundation of China (22FGLB026), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2023M730185), National Natural Science Foundation of China (71532003, 72072008 and 72104017), Funds for Basic Scientific Research in Central Universities (buctrc201804), and Funds for First-class Discipline Construction in Beijing University of Chemical Technology (XK1802-5).
Citation
Wang, C., Tang, F., Zhang, Q. and Zhang, W. (2025), "How does corporate social responsibility contribute to innovation performance? The moderating role of social media strategic capability and big data analytics capability", European Journal of Innovation Management, Vol. 28 No. 2, pp. 631-655. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-11-2022-0636
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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