ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND SOCIAL CAPITAL AS CATALYSTS OF TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION IN SMES: THE POWER OF COLLABORATIVE KNOWLEDGE

Abstract

In the evolving landscape of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the strategic integration of social capital and artificial intelligence (AI) emerges as a crucial driver of green technological innovation. Grounded in the Resource-Based View (RBV), this study examines how green human resource management (GHRM) practices cultivate social capital, which in turn fosters tacit green knowledge sharing and enhances innovation outcomes. Drawing on empirical data from SMEs across various industries, the research highlights the structural, relational, and cognitive dimensions of social capital as key enablers of collaborative knowledge flows. The mediating role of green tacit knowledge sharing and the moderating influence of AI are also explored, illustrating AI's capacity to enhance the efficacy and personalization of knowledge-sharing processes when aligned with organizational culture. Findings demonstrate that GHRM significantly impacts social capital development, which positively influences knowledge exchange and green innovation. The study contributes to both theoretical and practical discourse by integrating socio-technological constructs within the RBV framework and offering actionable insights for SME managers aiming to leverage human and AI capabilities for sustainable innovation.