Is knowledge capital always effective? The curvilinear relationship between knowledge capital and micro-innovation in construction

Purpose Micro-innovation has become an important strategy for promoting the high-quality development of construction projects. This study explores the effect of knowledge capital on micro-innovation within construction projects. It further seeks to investigate how exploitative and exploratory learning capabilities moderate the relationship between knowledge capital and micro-innovation, with the goal of providing actionable insights to enhance innovation practices and project quality. Design/methodology/approach The research employs a quantitative methodology, utilizing regression analysis to test the proposed hypotheses. Data were collected through a survey of 315 construction projects, forming the basis for an empirical analysis of the relationships among knowledge capital, ambidextrous learning capacities and micro-innovation. Findings We found that an inverted U-shaped association existed between knowledge capital and micro-innovation. That is, moderate knowledge capital was associated with high micro-innovation, while excessive knowledge capital corresponded to lower levels of micro-innovation. In addition, the curvilinear relationship of knowledge capital on micro-innovation was jointly moderated by exploitative and exploratory learning capacities. Project teams with moderate knowledge capital exhibited high micro-innovation when either learning capacity was high. Notably, the inverted U-shaped relationship was reversed only when both capacities were simultaneously high. Originality/value This study advances understanding of the synergistic role of ambidextrous learning capacities in moderating this relationship. The findings offer practical guidance for construction project teams to optimize knowledge resource allocation and leverage learning capacities, thereby facilitating effective micro-innovation implementation and promoting high-quality project development.