The Path and Boundary of the Intra‐Team Co‐Opetition Relationship Affecting Employee Innovation Behavior

A Moderated Mediation Model

Bibliographic Data

ID7170804
AuthorsMin Zhang (0000-0003-4273-6836, Nantong University Nantong China), Jinyu Zhang (0000-0002-1440-3885, Nantong University Nantong China), Siyu He (0009-0007-4350-4232, Nanjing Normal University Nanjing China, corresponding author), Xiang Li (0000-0001-6509-2709, Nantong University Nantong China), Xufan Zhang (0000-0002-8545-1972, Nanjing Normal University Nanjing China)
Year2025
Volume59
Issue2
Publication date2025-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Journal of Creative Behavior (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-0175 • E-ISSN: 2162-6057
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/jocb.70012
OpenAlexW4408652481
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited62

Innovation is vital for business sustainability and market competitiveness, with employees playing a crucial role. Current research on employee innovation focuses on individual traits and organizational context, overlooking competition and cooperation. However, these factors influence employee performance. This study reveals through a scenario experiment and a questionnaire that: (1) A balance of competition and cooperation in a team increases exploratory‐exploitation learning tension. (2) A combination of high competition and high cooperation positively impacts this tension more than a low competition–cooperation mix. (3) In a contradictory mix, the “high competition‐low cooperation” combination has a greater positive impact than the “low competition‐high cooperation” one. (4) This tension mediates the relationship between intra‐team co‐opetition and employee innovation. (5) A paradox mindset enhances the relationship between learning tension and innovation. The study provides insights on improving employee innovation through intra‐team co‐opetition, exploring mediation mechanisms and boundary conditions

Business · Business administration · Coopetition · Economics · Game theory · Mediation · Microeconomics · Moderated mediation · Path (computing) · Sociology · Computer Science · Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior · Knowledge Management and Sharing · Marketing · Psychology · Social Psychology · Technology Adoption and User Behaviour

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Open DOIOpen Access