Linkages between Social Goal Orientation and Innovative Behavior: Examining the Mediating Role of Knowledge Sharing and Employee Engagement

The purpose of this study is to identify the structural relationships among social goal orientation, knowledge sharing, employee engagement and innovative behavior on employees of an organization. This study used a data sample of office workers in Korean companies by survey. The findings are as follows. First, knowledge sharing plays a significant role in the relationship between social goal orientation type and innovative behavior. Second, employee engagement plays a mediating role between social goal orientation and innovative behavior. Third, the dual mediating effect of knowledge sharing and employee engagement is important between social goal orientation and innovative behavior. Our findings have important theoretical implications, which suggest that not only psychological motivations of individuals but also their social motivations should be considered to promote innovative behavior. Therefore, it is important to provide an appropriate knowledge sharing and employee engagement environment for employees according to their social goal orientation type rather than requiring innovative behavior.