Management Knowledge Diversity and Corporate AI Technological Innovation: U-Shaped Relationship, Mediating Mechanism and Contingency Boundaries

Abstract

Based on the knowledge-based view and temporal orientation theory, this study explores the nonlinear impact of management knowledge diversity on corporate AI innovation, the mediating role of executive long-term orientation, and the contingency effects of institutional ownership, digital economy and cooperative innovation. Using a sample of 51,029 observations from 5,120 A-share listed companies in China from 2011 to 2024, we adopt hierarchical regression, instrumental variable method and propensity score matching (PSM) for empirical analysis. The findings show that: management knowledge diversity has a U-shaped relationship with AI innovation; executive long-term orientation partially mediates this U-shaped relationship; institutional ownership and digital economy negatively moderate the relationship (flattening the curve), while cooperative innovation positively moderates it (steepening the curve). Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the promoting effect is more significant in low-pollution industries, firms with high management shareholding, eastern regions, highly competitive markets and regions with strong intellectual property protection. This study distinguishes between management knowledge and technological knowledge diversity, reveals the U-shaped impact, challenges the inverted U-shaped pattern, and provides a new framework and practical implications for knowledge management in AI innovation.