The Impact of Social Capital on Strategic Innovation with an Emphasis on the Mediating Role of Innovative Organizational Climate

Today’s fast-changing and uncertain business world has changed the competitive business environment, and organizations must pay attention to innovation to achieve success, growth, and competitive advantages. Accordingly, the main objective of this study was to examine the effect of social capital on strategic innovation in insurance companies of Tehran. Furthermore, the study intended to examine the role of innovative climate in strengthening or weakening the foregoing relationship. The study was comparative in terms of approach and a correlational survey in terms of data collection. To this end, after reviewing the literature and designing the conceptual model, a questionnaire consisting of 21 questions was distributed among 43 companies. At least three managers from every company answered the questions, and the average scores of their responses were analyzed. Face and content validity of the questionnaire was verified based on expert opinion and the use of a standard questionnaire, while its construct validity was ensured through confirmatory factor analysis. In addition, the reliability of the questionnaire was approved by the application of Cronbach's alpha test and composite reliability. Then, the collected data was analyzed using Smart PLS software through the correlation matrix, the structural equation modeling, and the model fitness analysis. Finally, it was found that social capital is effective on strategic innovation. In addition, the innovative organizational climate has a mediating role in the relationship between social capital and strategic innovation.