The Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) Activities on Innovation Performance: The Sequential Mediation Effect of Knowledge Sharing and Innovation Behavior

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of CSR activities on innovation performance and to identify the mediating role of knowledge sharing and innovation behaviors between CSR activities and innovation performance. In addition, the purpose of this study is to verify the role of sequential mediating effect of knowledge sharing and innovation behavior between CSR activities and innovation performance. Design/methodology/approach - This study collected survey data from 293 organizational members working in Chinese companies. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), reliability analysis, correlation analysis and process macro were used in order to analyze the data. Findings - First, this study verified that CSR activities had a significant positive effect on knowledge sharing, innovation behavior, and innovation performance. Second, it was found that knowledge sharing had a significant positive effect on innovation behavior and innovation performance. Third, it was verified that innovation behavior had a significant positive effect on innovation performance. Fourth, knowledge sharing and innovation behavior had a sequential mediating effect in the relationship between CSR activities and innovation performance. Research implications or Originality - With the uncertainty of the environment and the intensification of competition among companies, more and more companies begin to pay attention to innovation. Different from existing studies, this study focuses on CSR activities, identifies the role of CSR activities, explores ways to guide innovation performance, and verifies the sequential mediating role of knowledge sharing and innovation behavior. Through this measure, the importance of knowledge sharing and innovative behavior among organizational members is emphasized, solutions to strengthen innovation are explored, and theoretical and practical implications are provided for companies.