Research on the effect of lead users on firms innovation performance in a social media environment : mediated by firms social media use

Abstract

This paper explores how knowledge sharing by leading users in the context of social media enhances corporate innovation performance. Grounded in the theories of user innovation, open innovation, and resource-based view, the study analyzes the mechanism through which leading suer knowledge sharing influences corporate innovation performance. Leading user knowledge sharing is taken as independent variable, corporate innovation performance as the dependent variable, and corporate social media usage is introduced as a mediating variable. The findings of the study indicate the following: leading user knowledge sharing has a significant positive impact on corporate innovation performance, and corporate social media usage acts as a mediator between leading user knowledge sharing and corporate innovation performance. Based on the research findings, relevant recommendations are proposed