A Knowledge-Sharing Model to Enhance Social Innovation: Evidence from a professional social network

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student, Faculty of Management and Economics, Tarbiat Modares University, Iran, omid.dehghan@modares.ac.ir

2 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Management and Economics, Tarbiat Modares University, Iran, a.sarabadani@modares.ac.ir

10.47176/SMOK.2026.1994

Abstract

Purpose: This study tests a model that examines how the intensity of professional network use promotes knowledge sharing and, ultimately, social innovation, while also investigating the influence of psychological factors in this relationship.
Methodology: Data were collected using a questionnaire. Face validity was established through expert evaluation by six specialists. Based on Cohen's statistical power analysis, the minimum required sample size was estimated at 68 participants. A total of 221 questionnaires were collected from professional users holding master's or doctoral degrees and employed in information technology companies in Tehran Province. Convenience sampling was employed, and the data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 3.
Results: All research hypotheses were confirmed with beta coefficients ranging from -0.288 to 0.863 and t-coefficients ranging from 7.680 to 45.324.The results showed that the intensity of professional social media use significantly increased upward social comparison. Upward social comparison positively affected benign envy  and negatively affected malicious envy. Benign envy promoted active knowledge sharing, whereas malicious envy increased reactive knowledge sharing. Both active and reactive knowledge sharing significantly enhanced social innovation.
Discussion: This study advances the literature by demonstrating that the relationship between professional social media use and social innovation.
Conclusion: Professional social media platforms can enhance social innovation by fostering upward social comparison, encouraging proactive knowledge sharing, and supporting organizational knowledge management through appropriate incentive and recognition mechanisms.

Graphical Abstract

A Knowledge-Sharing Model to Enhance Social Innovation: Evidence from a professional social network

Highlights

  1. Professional social media promotes social innovation through knowledge sharing
  2. Upward social comparison encourages constructive rather than harmful responses
  3. Benign envy increases proactive knowledge sharing among professionals
  4. Reactive and proactive knowledge sharing both support social innovation
  5. A new pathway links social media use to social innovation through emotion

Keywords

Copyright ©, Omid Dehghann; Abolghasem Sarabadani

License

Published by Imam Hossein University. This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this licence may be seen at http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode  

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  • Receive Date: 27 June 2026
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