The influence of corporate social capital on knowledge acquisition and product innovation strategy

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Abstract

This study investigates the influence of corporate social capital on knowledge acquisition and product innovation in Vietnam’s textile and garment industry. Grounded in social capital theory, the research explores the interconnections between leaders’ social capital, internal social capital, and external social capital. Data was gathered through direct interviews with 293 senior and middle-level leaders from enterprises in southern Vietnam. The findings reveal that corporate social capital significantly impacts both knowledge acquisition and product innovation. Moreover, the study demonstrates that leaders’ social capital directly influences internal and external social capital, highlighting its crucial role in fostering these organizational assets. The research also establishes a positive relationship between knowledge acquisition, facilitated by corporate social capital, and enhanced product innovation. These results underscore the importance of cultivating social capital at various organizational levels to drive innovation and competitive advantage in the textile and garment sector. The study contributes to the understanding of social capital dynamics in emerging markets and offers practical insights for managers seeking to leverage social networks for organizational success.

Keywords: Social Capital, Corporate Social Capital, Knowledge Acquisition, Product Innovation, Vietnam

Authors’ individual contribution: Conceptualization — T.V.B.; Methodology — T.V.B.; Software — K.N.; Validation — T.V.B.; Formal Analysis — K.N.; Investigation — T.V.B.; Resources — T.V.B.; Data Curation — T.V.B.; Writing — Original Draft — T.V.B.; Writing — Review & Editing — T.V.B., K.N., and X.T.T.N.; Visualization — T.V.B. and X.T.T.N.; Project Administration — X.T.T.N.

Declaration of conflicting interests: The Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

JEL Classification: G2, L2, M1

Received: 06.06.2024
Revised: 07.10.2024; 02.12.2024; 09.06.2025
Accepted: 03.07.2025
Published online: 07.07.2025

How to cite this paper: Bui, T. V., Nguyen, K., & Nguyen, X. T. T. (2025). The influence of corporate social capital on knowledge acquisition and product innovation strategy. Corporate & Business Strategy Review, 6(3), 105–114. https://doi.org/10.22495/cbsrv6i3art10