| Abstract: |
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among individual characteristics, the use of social technologies, and creativity in the workplace. Data were obtained through an online survey of 80 engineers and 12 managers working in a large IT company listed by the Fortune 500 (n1=80, n2=12). Our empirical strategy relies on fixed-effects structural equation modeling with a quasi-experimental design to study the structural relationship among creativity, online social connectivity, online knowledge management, and personal innovativeness. By using a dual approach to identify the relevant hypotheses of how this relationship can happen -- one that combines the role of social capital, on the one hand, and the role of knowledge management, on the other -- our findings suggest that online social connectivity and more specifically, obtaining new connections mediate the relationship between the behavior of personal innovativeness and creativity. Understanding the ways in which online connections and online knowledge management as well as personal innovativeness are related to employee creativity helps in building innovative organizations. This study provides evidence of the positive relationship between personal innovativeness and creativity. Moreover, the results are compatible with a model in which online social connectivity mediates this relationship. This study may facilitate recruitment and selection strategies and encourage organizations to implement platforms with user-friendly functionalities of connecting with other employees and searching data. |