An Empirical Study On The Influence Of Knowledge Distance On Employees' Innovation Behavior

Under the background of promoting innovation-driven policy,knowledge management and employee innovation behavior have become hot topics in the field of organizational behavior.From the perspective of receivers' knowledge sharing,this paper explores the effects of employees' knowledge distance both with their direct supervisors and colleagues on their innovative behavior through the mediating role of knowledge seeking.The knowledge distance between employees is an important factor affecting their knowledge learning,and knowledge resources are the basis of employee innovation.It is of great significance exploring the mechanism of knowledge distance between employees and innovative behavior to promote employees' knowledge learning and innovation.At present,the research on knowledge distance is mostly concentrated among organizations and teams,and there is still no empirical test on the knowledge gap between individual employees.Therefore,the purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of knowledge distance among employees on their innovation behavior and the mediating role of knowledge seeking in the relationship,as well as to analyze the situational role of colleagues' trust and leader-member exchange in employees' knowledge seeking in their horizontal and vertical relationships.This article is based on the theory of knowledge potentials,context-judgement learning in social learning theory and social exchange.Firstly,it sorts out the relevant literature on the five main variables involved in the research: knowledge distance,knowledge seeking,employee innovation behavior,colleagues' trust,and leader-member exchange.Secondly,it analyzes the influence of knowledge distance between employees and their colleagues as well as their superiors on their innovative behaviors.It also explores the mediating role of employees' knowledge seeking from their colleagues and from their supervisors between knowledge distance and their innovation behavior,and the moderating effect of colleagues' trust in the influence of knowledge distance between employees and colleagues to their knowledge seeking,as well as the moderating effect of leader-member exchange in the influence of knowledge distance between employees and superiors to their knowledge seeking.From the theoretical analysis we put forward research hypotheses.Thirdly,by selecting the measurement and assessment tools required by the research institute,we conduct pre-tests,analyze the predicted sample data,correct the scale and obtain a formal scale.Finally,on the basis of ensuring the reliability and validity of all research variables,we verify the hypotheses proposed in the study through performing correlation analysis,structural equation model test,and hierarchical regression analysis on the data of all variables.Empirical study has illustrated that employees' knowledge distance with direct supervisors and colleagues has a significant negative influence on their innovative behavior,and these relationships were partially mediated by knowledge seeking from superiors and colleagues respectively.Colleagues' trust moderates the effect of knowledge distance with colleagues to knowledge seeking from colleagues,leader-member exchange moderates the effect of knowledge distance with supervisors to knowledge seeking from supervisors.Based on the research results,this paper suggests that managers should pay more attention to the possible negative impact of knowledge distance on employees' knowledge learning and innovation behaviors,and to establish reasonable talent configuration in teams or organizations,as well as create a harmonious interpersonal atmosphere for employees' learning and innovation.