Kanittha Pattanasing

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This study examines how 4Cs capabilities, namely critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration, contribute to incremental innovation through the mediating role of knowledge co-creation in resource-constrained manufacturing SMEs. Data were collected from 179 key informants, including owners, executives, engineers, and technicians, targeting manufacturing SMEs in Thailand between May and June 2025 using a structured questionnaire survey. These respondents were selected because they are directly involved in operational and innovation-related activities in their firms. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results show that all four 4Cs capabilities have statistically significant positive effects on incremental innovation: critical thinking (β = 0.194, p < 0.01), creativity (β = 0.255, p < 0.01), communication (β = 0.183, p < 0.05), and collaboration (β = 0.157, p < 0.01). All four capabilities also positively influence knowledge co-creation, which in turn significantly affects incremental innovation (β = 0.257, p < 0.01). The findings further indicate partial mediation, suggesting that learning-oriented capabilities contribute to innovation both directly and through knowledge co-creation. These findings indicate that incremental innovation in resource-constrained manufacturing SMEs depends not only on the presence of learning-oriented capabilities but also on how these capabilities are integrated through knowledge sharing, integration, and application processes. Knowledge co-creation therefore functions as a central mechanism through which existing capabilities are translated into innovation outcomes.

Acknowledgment
This research was supported by Prince of Songkla University (Grant No. LAM6802035S).