The influence of knowledge-sharing on organizational innovation through organizational creativity: an empirical study in start-up companies

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of knowledge sharing on organizational innovation, with organizational creativity serving as an intervening variable, in start-up companies in Surabaya, Indonesia. This research used a quantitative approach. The sampling technique applied was purposive sampling, resulting in a sample of 64 start-up companies in Surabaya. Data were collected through a questionnaire based on a Likert scale. The data were then analyzed using Partial Least Squares (PLS). The results showed that both knowledge sharing and organizational creativity had significant effects on organizational innovation. The findings also suggest that knowledge sharing, organizational creativity—particularly through the use of the latest technology—and product innovation should be emphasized by start-up companies in Surabaya to enhance their competitive advantage. The originality of this research lies in its approach to data collection, which considered knowledge sharing in both horizontal and vertical relationships from the perspective of start-up company leaders.