Purpose: Given the decisive role of knowledge-oriented leadership (KOL) in boosting organizational innovation capacities, the research intends to investigate the effect of KOL on ambidextrous innovation with the mediating effect of knowledge management capability (KMC). Furthermore, technological turbulence (TT) is regarded as a moderator in the relationship between KMC and ambidextrous innovation.Design/methodology/approach: The data obtained from 122 Pakistani manufacturing firms were used to evaluate the proposed relationships using the partial least square structural equation modeling approach.Findings: The empirical findings demonstrate that KOL positively affects both aspects of ambidextrous innovation, namely exploitative innovation (EII) and exploratory innovation (ERI), with a higher effect on EII. Additionally, knowledge management process capability (KMPC) partially mediates the association between KOL and both dimensions of ambidextrous innovation (EII and ERI). Similarly, knowledge management infrastructure capability (KMIC) mediates the link between KOL and ERI but does not mediate the relationship between KOL and EII. The impacts of the KMPC and KMIC on EII are also significantly moderated by TT, although the link between the two components of the KMC (KMPC and KMIC) and ERI is unaffected.Practical implications: The research provides useful knowledge and a novel strategy for policymakers to foster KOL and invest in KMC to improve the capabilities of Pakistani manufacturing firms in terms of innovation.Originality/value: The research has contributed significantly to the resources-based view and knowledge-based view (KBV) literature by examining the various mediation moderation mechanisms and offering greater insights into the relationship between KOL and firms, KMC, and ambidextrous innovations.

Purpose: This study investigates the interaction between organizational strategic factors (Leadership and management support [LMS] and green learning orientation [GLO]) and green innovation performance (GIP), through the lens of resource-based view (RBV) theory. It examines both the direct and indirect impacts of these factors on GIP via green knowledge management (GKM), and explores how green absorptive capacity (GAC) enhances these relationships. Design/methodology/approach: Using Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and moderated mediation analysis, we analyzed responses from 419 individuals across 154 manufacturing firms in Pakistan to understand these dynamics. Findings: Results show that LMS and GLO significantly affect GIP, both directly and indirectly, through GKM. Furthermore, GAC intensifies the impact of GLO on GKM and the influence of GKM on GIP, indicating a moderated mediation effect. Practical implications: Highlighting the importance of LMS, GLO, GKM, and GAC, the study suggests that focusing on these areas can help firms align their strategies with sustainability goals, enhancing their GIP. These insights can guide policymakers in creating supportive strategies for businesses to improve their GAC, facilitating better knowledge adoption and application. Originality/value: The research contributes to the RBV theory by clarifying the role of strategic organizational factors in enhancing GIP within manufacturing firms, offering a clearer path to achieving sustainability goals.

Purpose: Nowadays, it is hard to retain a knowledge monopoly since tacit knowledge has become essential for innovation and organizational effectiveness (ORP). This study analyzed the role of product innovation as a mediator in the relationship between the tacit knowledge management process (TKMP) and organizational performance. In addition, two moderating variables were examined: (1) Affective trust (AFT) between the tacit knowledge management process and product innovation relationship and (2) Task efficiency in product innovation and organizational performance (ORP) relationship. Design/methodology/approach: Around 344 questionnaires were collected from various Chinese regions between February and April 2023 to conduct this study. The regression, mediation and moderation analyses on lower and higher-order data were evaluated using the SmartPLS approach. Findings: The results validate that product innovation mediates the connection between managing tacit knowledge and the organization’s performance. Affective trust also plays a positive moderating role between tacit knowledge and product innovation. These results provide valuable theoretical and practical insights, substantiating various direct, indirect, mediate, and moderated effects hypotheses. Research limitations/implications: The scope of the study was restricted to manufacturing companies; however, further research may broaden the model’s scope to include other industries. Furthermore, future research should continue to explore the role of task efficiency in the innovation process and identify strategies for enhancing task efficiency in organizations. Practical implications: The study establishes the significance of effectively managing tacit knowledge for fostering product innovation. Company managers and leaders can promote employee trust, enhancing innovation capabilities and overall organizational effectiveness. Originality/value: This study, involving dual moderation, explores the connections between processes of managing tacit knowledge, product innovation and organizational performance. It addresses research gaps, enriching the understanding of managing tacit knowledge, leading to organizational innovation and performance improvements. The study also highlights how affective trust is vital in strengthening the connection between TKMP and product innovation.

Purpose: This study aims to determine whether knowledge creation processes (KCPs) – knowledge exchange and knowledge integration affect digital innovation (DI), including information technology (IT)-enabled capabilities (ITECs) as a mediator and absorptive capacity (AC) as a moderator. Design/methodology/approach: With a survey data set of 390 employees from Pakistani software small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the current study employed Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using Smart Partial Least Squares to estimate the structural relationships in the conceptual model. Findings: The results confirm that KCPs – knowledge exchange and knowledge integration positively enhance software SME's DI; ITECs play a partial mediating role in the linkage between KCPs and DI; AC positively moderates the relationship between knowledge integration and ITECs, and ITECs and DI, while AC doesn’t moderate the relationship between knowledge exchange and ITECs. The AC positively moderates the mediating role of ITECs amongst KCPs (knowledge exchange and knowledge integration) and DI, respectively. Originality/value: This research uniquely integrates the knowledge-based view and dynamic capability theory to present a comprehensive framework that explains the interdependencies between knowledge process, ITECs and AC in driving DI. This approach advances the understanding of how software SMEs can strengthen internal knowledge and IT resources to achieve superior innovation outcomes.

Purpose: The study aims to explore the impact of tacit knowledge sharing (TKS) factors and its consequences in the form of technological innovation capabilities (TICs) within Pakistani software small–medium enterprises (SSMEs).Design/methodology/approach: Drawing upon the social exchange theory (SET), the study used a quantitative approach and structural equation modeling (SEM) to test hypotheses with 220 valid data collected from 23 Pakistani software SSMEs.Findings: The peer influence (PI) has positive and significant effect on collaborative culture (CC), willingness to share tacit knowledge (WSTK) and TICs. Organizational trust (OT) has a positive and significant impact on CC and TIC. Whereas, CC possessed positive and significant effect on WSTK and insignificant on TIC. Furthermore, WSTK has positive and significant effect on TIC. Finally, WSTK partially mediates the relationship between PI and TIC whereas WSTK fully mediates the relationship between CC and TIC.Research limitations/implications: The study enriches the research on knowledge sharing and TIC. This research investigates the precursors of tacit knowledge-sharing willingness and their consequences in software SMEs; future studies need to examine tacit knowledge-seeking willingness and its consequences not only in software enterprises but also in other industrial sectors. Besides, it needs to evaluate types of innovative capabilities in software SMEs.Practical implications: The study suggested that the practitioners need to strengthen TKS in the form employees’ updated skills and expertise which ultimately fosters software enterprise’s innovative capabilities to attain competitive advantages in a specific industry.Originality/value: This research is one of the few studies to examine the potential antecedents of WSTK and their final effects within software SMEs in the form of TICs. As currently it is observed, an incredible increase of skills oriented innovations in firms particularly in the software domain and IT industry. Therefore, this study emphasizes how PI, OT and WSTK positively affect TIC of Pakistani software SMEs. However, the study could be considered as a guideline for the academia and practitioners who attempt to strengthen the technological innovations capabilities in software SMEs.