Social media and sustainable innovation in manufacturing firms: a dynamic capability perspective

Purpose

With social media usage growing rapidly in business sustainability in manufacturing sectors, the means through which manufacturing firms can incorporate it into the pursuit of environmental sustainability are largely under-researched by academics. Drawing upon the dynamic capability view, this study examines the indirect relationship between social media usage and sustainable innovation in manufacturing sectors.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was based on analyzing data collected through a questionnaire survey on Chinese manufacturing firms. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was applied to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that social media usage has a positive effect on sustainable innovation in the manufacturing sectors. Firms' sustainable dynamic capability mediates the relationship between social media usage and sustainable innovation. In addition, the effects of social media usage on firms' sustainable dynamic capability are stronger when stakeholder pressure is stronger and top management team commitment is higher.

Originality/value

This study highlights social media application as an important, yet underexplored, factor in sustainable innovation of manufacturing firms. The findings also untangle the mechanism of sustainable dynamic capability by which social media usage improves sustainable innovation for manufacturing firms.