LEVERAGING DIGITAL COLLABORATION TOOLS TO ENHANCE INNOVATION IN REMOTE WORK ENVIRONMENTS: A STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELLING APPROACH

Abstract

The global shift to remote work has underscored the importance of Digital Collaboration Tools (DCTs) in sustaining organisational performance, particularly in fostering innovation. This study investigates the relationships among Remote Work Adoption (RWA), Digital Collaboration Tool Usage (DCTU), Individual Innovation Performance (IIP), and Organisational Innovation Culture (OIC) using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Survey data from 317 professionals across industries revealed that RWA significantly predicts DCTU (β = 0.68, p < 0.001), which in turn positively influences IIP (β = 0.45, p < 0.001) and OIC (β = 0.38, p < 0.001). Notably, DCTU mediates the relationship between RWA and IIP, with a significant indirect effect (β_indirect = 0.30, p < 0.01). Additionally, DCTs were perceived as highly effective in facilitating innovation, particularly in project coordination (M = 4.35) and idea sharing (M = 4.20). These findings highlight DCTs’ crucial role in driving innovation in remote work settings and offer practical implications for organisations aiming to cultivate a dynamic innovation culture.