Impact of information sharing on individual learning and innovation performance

This research investigates the impact of information sharing (IS) on individual innovation performance within engineering organizations. While the general link between information sharing and innovation is known, the specific mechanisms in private engineering firms remain underexplored. Drawing on an integrated framework of social exchange theory and social development theory, this study proposes and tests a model that unpacks these pathways. Data were collected via a survey of 287 engineers from electronic manufacturing firms in Hong Kong, China and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results confirm that IS has a significant positive relationship with learning motivation, individual learning, and adaptability to change. Furthermore, these three factors are substantially and significantly associated with individual innovation performance. The findings reveal that IS does not directly drive innovation but rather fosters a learning-oriented environment that simultaneously enhances motivation and cognitive adaptability. This study’s main contribution is a nuanced, mechanism-based understanding of how information sharing influences innovation, offering valuable theoretical and practical insights for fostering innovation in knowledge-intensive engineering settings. © 2026 China Science Publishing and Media Ltd.