Personality traits and user innovation engagement in open innovation platform: the moderating role of social network position

Abstract

ABSTRACT Users are playing an increasingly vital role in innovation. Previous studies have shown that personality traits are crucial factors in innovation engagement. However, there is no consensus regarding the impact of some personality traits on innovation engagement. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of Big Five personality traits on user innovation engagement in an open innovation platform, including idea and comment contributions, and further explored the interaction effect of social network position and personality traits. The data collected from IdeaExchange, a user innovation platform hosted by Salesforce, were analyzed. The results show that extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience positively correlate with user innovation engagement, whereas neuroticism negatively correlates with user innovation engagement. Additionally, social network position negatively moderated the impact of agreeableness on idea contribution, and positively moderated the impact of both conscientiousness and openness to experience on idea contribution. The conclusions provide a theoretical basis for platform managers to formulate open innovation strategies and incentivise user innovation engagement.