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Does social interaction foster or hinder innovation? the role of AI-based knowledge management systems

Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Knowledge assets are a source of innovation for organizations, making knowledge management a strategically important activity. Along with knowledge management systems (KMS), quality social interactions among employees enrich tacit knowledge sharing and enhance innovation. Organizations are now shifting towards an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled KMS. This study investigates how AI-based KMS influences the effect of social interaction on employees’ perceived autonomy and innovative behaviour. Using a 2 × 2 vignette-based experimental design manipulating KMS type (traditional vs. AI-based) and social interaction (low vs. high) (N = 282), we show that KMS type and social interaction jointly shape employee outcomes. Results indicate that a high level of social interaction reduces perceived autonomy under traditional KMS, whereas this negative effect is tentatively attenuated when AI-based KMS is implemented, as evidenced by a marginally significant interaction effect (p = .051) and a significant index of moderated mediation. Further analyses reveal that perceived autonomy mediates the relationship between social interaction and innovative behaviour, with a significant indirect effect under traditional KMS but not under AI-based KMS. This study draws on and extends event system theory (EST) by conceptualizing the implementation of AI-based KMS as a critical probabilistic transformational sociotechnical event that affects employees’ perceptions and behaviours. It offers implications for organizations by empirically demonstrating that AI-based KMS can enhance employee autonomy in high social interaction environments. Further, this study suggests directions for future research.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jik.2026.101141
Language: English
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,200
OpenAlex ID: W7204205328
FWCI: 2.428
Cites: 42
Cited by: 1
Related to: 10