Abstract This study examines how malleable beliefs about social capital and proactive networking behaviors influence collaboration and innovation within agribusiness supply chains. Drawing on the Lay Theories of Networking (Kuwabara, Hildebrand and Zou, 2018), it investigates the role of growth-oriented mindsets in shaping networking engagement. Individuals who perceive social capital as expandable tend to participate more actively in building professional connections. Utilizing survey data from agribusiness professionals, the study employs factor analysis and structural equation modeling to test six hypotheses related to networking dynamics, collaborative practices, and innovation outcomes. Results indicate that malleable beliefs foster proactive networking, which in turn strengthens collaboration and drives innovation across complex supply chain environments. Additionally, collaboration emerges as a key mediating mechanism linking networking behaviors to innovation performance. These findings provide actionable guidance for agribusiness managers aiming to cultivate a collaborative culture, stimulate innovation, and enhance competitiveness through strategic use of social capital and network development.
Joshua C. Chang (Wed,) studied this question.