External knowledge sourcing for R&D activities: antecedents and implications of governance mode choice

This paper investigates how internal and external factors affect the choice between alliances and joint ventures (A&;JVs) and mergers and acquisitions (M&;As) for the external sourcing of research and development (R&;D) activities, and whether or not such a choice is really contingent, that is, is it the best choice in terms of its impact on firms' innovative performance under those circumstances? We build a set of hypotheses based on both the transaction-cost theory and the resource-based view, and test them through a secondary data source analysis. We found that companies adopt either R&;D M&;A or A&;JV depending on internal (e.g. resources and capabilities, innovation experience) and external (e.g. degree of industry specialisation) factors. Surprisingly, this contingent choice turns to be effective on innovative performance only for the internal factors, rather than the external. This paper contributes to inter-firm relationships literature by presenting the real advantages of using integrated and contingency theoretical models to understand contingent decisions.     

Commissioning Design: Evidence from the Furniture Industry

Design is defined as a strategic competency that can be utilized in order to create new objects, artifacts (i.e. products), systems and services, starting with some idea about customer needs. Since the products and services from the design process are of strategic importance to the company, design knowledge itself can become a strategic asset. Although one might expect design to be an internal resource from the point of view of transaction costs, most companies only possess some design competencies and acquire creative design skills from design consultants. The important issue is how they delineate what is strategic and what is not strategic, but skills. The article is based on two case studies from the furniture industry in which the companies have found different solutions. In the paper we therefore explain the differences in terms of the resource-based view on strategy. This indicates different conceptions of design resources, operating in different, but comparable contexts.     

When is betweenness centrality useful to firms pursuing technological diversity? An internal-resources view

This study examines situations in which betweenness centrality (BC) is useful for firms pursuing technological diversity. Given the role of BC in firms’ access to external technological knowledge, the study explores the extent to which R&D and manufacturing resources, technological strength, and financial slack moderate the relationship between BC and technological diversity. The results show that BC alone does not exert a positive effect on technological diversity. Furthermore, R&D resources, technological strength, and financial slack each positively moderate the relationship between BC and technological diversity, whereas manufacturing resources do not. Identifying the influential moderators of internal resources should enable firms to harness the benefits of BC. Thus, firms should possess such internal resources to further their technological diversity through BC.     

The market for corporate control: do countries and technological regimes matter?

Using DATASTREAM and LexisNexis databases, we examine the experience from 1995 to 2005 for eight European countries and 21 sectors, and compute the frequency of merger transactions at sectoral level, controlling for the roles of country variables and focusing on distinct technological patterns of innovation. We found that, even in market‐based countries, where transfer of control is a frequent phenomenon, mergers are less frequent in those sectors where innovation follows cumulative processes and where takeovers represent a ‘breach of knowledge.’ This study provides empirical support to the fruitful line of research of varieties of capitalism (Hall and Soskice 2001 Hall, P. A. and Soskice, D., eds. 2001. Varieties of Capitalism, Oxford: Oxford University Press. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]) and shows that sectoral differences in M&A (mergers and acquisitions) may be seen in their complementarities with differences by country and their institutional frameworks. Results confirm that acquisitions may occur even in those economies where block‐holders are present, but where the good quality of institutions leaves no space for defence against takeovers. It also highlights the significant role played by takeover regulation, and suggests that the recent reforms in European harmonization should be implemented, so that the obstacles impeding takeovers can be removed. However, policy‐makers should also try to identify for which economies and sectoral fields of specialization, merger activities produce more beneficial effects and which turn out to be detrimental.     

基于Yang-Wills模型的战略联盟治理研究

在一个基于Yang-Wills理论的串并联耦合结构战略联盟治理模型中,联盟稳定性可以通过改善和加强当前联盟关系(与串联关系对应)、拓展潜在联盟关系(与并联关系对应)以及此两种模式的组合运用来实现,但均以增加资源投入为代价,并存在串并联治理模式之间资源投入的权衡选择,战略联盟的稳定性就是联盟内生交易费用与外生资源投入以及不同资源投入成本之间折衷选择的内生结果。     

企业网络创新中的知识共享机带——丰田汽车的案例

本文指出，促进分工的企业网络，必然有利于克服知识产品的市场失灵问题，推动知识在企业间的转移和转换。重点分析了日本企业“系列”，认为是一种以相互持股为基本特征的企业网络，在其中是与主流经济学竞争范式不同的不标准竞争。接着以案例的形式，分析丰田汽车生产方式中提高企业网络中技术创新能力和企业绩效的知识共享机制。得出结论：日本企业网络拓展了企业学习的来源，促进了知识在网络内的共享以及进一步的创新，因而在一定的条件下具有很高的效率，值得我国企业在推动自主创新的过程中学习和借鉴。     

Research on effectiveness of technology transfer in technology alliances: evidence from Turkish SMEs

Many SMEs homed in newly industrialised countries are successful international players despite limited technological infrastructure and R&D resources. This study bridges a gap in the extant literature by examining the relationships between characteristics of partnership relationships, knowledge sharing and the effectiveness of technology transfer in partnerships between SMEs in developing countries and firms from developed countries. By studying data from Turkish SMEs and using partial least squares structural equation modelling, we find that explicit knowledge sharing forms the basis of technology transfer. Moreover, our findings demonstrate that explicit knowledge sharing is strongly contingent upon formalised technical support while trust and technical support seemed to be important antecedents of tacit knowledge sharing.     

基于资源学说的企业知识联盟组建动因博弈

依据知识联盟的特性,从资源角度阐释了知识联盟的形成机理,指出互补型优势资源的组合最易形成知识联盟。以此为基础,从联盟体和联盟个体两个层面,分别建立了联盟体的利益博弈模型和联盟个体的利益博弈模型,结果表明优势资源互补的企业存在强烈的知识联盟动机,进一步揭示了组建知识联盟的关键,是要事先确定一个公平合理的利益分配系数,并分析了利益分配系数的内在影响变量。     

Effect of new product alliances on building cross-functional capability: cross-fertilisation or cannibalisation?

ABSTRACT

The extant literature has focused mainly on how establishing alliances helps firms develop their capabilities within focal functional areas, while paying limited attention to the cross-functional effects of alliances. Drawing on the knowledge-spillover literature and resource-dependence theory, this study investigates the effects of new product development (NPD) alliances on building cross-functional capabilities, testing the influences of important organisational, strategic, and environmental contingencies. Based on survey data collected from 212 Chinese firms, the findings reveal that, for resource-abundant firms, R&D-focused NPD alliances have cross-functional fertilisation effects on marketing capabilities; whereas for resource-constrained or highly innovative firms such alliances cannibalise marketing capabilities; in dynamic markets, marketing-focused NPD alliances cross-fertilise technological capabilities, but such an effect is weaker in firms adopting a highly incremental innovation orientation. Overall, this study sheds new light on how NPD alliances affect cross-functional capabilities under important contingencies.     

网络治理理论及其新进展:一个演化的观点

网络治理作为一种新的治理形式,已日益引起了理论界和实业界的广泛关注。本文将从组织治理演化的视角对网络治理的基本理论及其新进展进行综述。首先阐释了网络治理产生的背景,其次论证了网络治理是不同于科层治理和市场治理的一种新的治理形式,接着给出了网络治理的一般理论和基本框架,并就存在的问题进行评述,得出网络治理理论研究的正确方法应该是基于多学科交叉基础之上的系统性探索,最后对网络治理的新进展进行了深入分析,进而指出知识治理维度将是网络治理研究的未来方向。     

公司治理、经验学习与企业连续并购——基于我国上市公司并购决策的经验证据

文章以2004-2008年我国上市公司的1 480起并购事件为样本,运用事件历史分析方法研究了公司治理和经验学习对企业连续并购行为的影响。研究发现:(1)并购管理程序熟练程度和以往并购绩效反馈都会增加连续并购决策的发生概率;(2)国有股权、管理层持股比率的增加、CEO和董事长两职合一会促进企业连续并购的发生,而具有较高独立性的董事会则可能会降低企业并购的发生概率;(3)国有股权、管理层持股比率、董事会领导结构和董事会独立性会强化经验学习对并购决策的影响效果。     

初选阶段知识联盟成员评价与选择模型

根据知识联盟成员选择与形成的实际过程,将知识联盟成员的选择分为初选和谈判(精选)两个阶段。在综合国外联盟实践经验及影响联盟成败的实证性研究结论的基础上,分析了知识联盟成员初选阶段影响联盟成败的关键变量,以此构建了知识联盟成员初选模型,并依据指标间的相互关系,提出了基于二值变量的初选阶段评价方法。     

How the purpose of the inter-firm relationships influences the choice of the governance form: evidence from the machine tool and the pharmaceutical industries

In today's competitive landscape, the choice of the appropriate mode to govern an inter-firm relationship is a critical factor for companies. In the literature several theoretical strands have examined the impact of the purpose of inter-firm relationships on the forms of governance. Building on a robust literature review on the topic, this study focuses on a specific issue influencing the choice of the form of governance in inter-firm relationships, i.e. the purpose of inter-firm relationships with relation to partner's resources. We gather in a unique framework three typologies of partner's resources, i.e. production, R&D and marketing, and through two empirical analyses in two different Italian industries, machine tool and pharmaceutical, we show how differently these purposes shape the choice of the governance mode.     

知识管理:强化内审工作的重要工具——美国内部审计工作经验研究

企业通过实施知识管理战略,保障了内审人员与会计人员之间的有效沟通与交流。论述了知识管理为什么对于内审人员非常重要,以及如何进行知识管理,并提出了改善知识管理工作的建议,主要包括：采用专用凭证管理工具,会计信息失真的综合治理,业务交叉与岗位轮换,设立知识仓库。     

创业板上市公司海外技术并购的创新效应 ——基于PSM-DID模型的实证分析

摘要：本文选取2011年至2017年创业板上市公司为研究对象,以“海外技术并购动机-海外技术并购行为-海外技术并购绩效”为研究框架,运用PSM-DID模型探究海外技术并购、技术知识相似与创新绩效三者的相互作用关系,研究表明：① 收购方的创新能力对企业做出海外技术并购决策有正向显著的影响。② 技术知识相似程度对企业做出海外技术并购决策有正向显著的影响。③ 海外技术并购对收购方的创新有正向显著的影响。④ 并购双方的技术知识相似程度越高,海外技术并购对收购方创新的促进作用越大。本文对收购方企业进行海外并购决策具有一定的启示作用与借鉴意义,有助于企业根据自身情况合理制定长远的发展决策,降低海外技术并购后技术整合失败的风险。     

中国营销渠道中企业间信任的概念模型

关系营销在理论界和企业界的日益兴起,使得许多企业在与其渠道成员的交换中开始放弃传统的交易导向,采纳关系导向.在这个背景下,信任被认为是建立成功交换关系的关键要素.本文在对现有文献概括与归纳的基础上,提出厂商视角的我国企业间渠道信任的一个综合模型和两个具体模型,即集体信任模型和人际信任模型,以及相关的若干命题.     

Corrective Taxes under Oligopoly with Inter-Firm Externalities

Pollution externalities between polluters should be taken into account in the design of corrective taxes. When the externalities are substantial and/or the number of polluters is large, the effluent levies on these firms do not necessarily result in a deadweight loss. Consequently, the second-best tax exceeds the marginal social cost of pollution. A more general rule is that the tax rate should be greater than the marginal social cost of pollution if and only if a marginal increase in the tax rate results in opposite effects on the changes of equilibrium emission level and output.     

Technological diversity,knowledge flow and capacity,and industrial innovation

ABSTRACT

This article examines the effect of technological diversity, knowledge flow and capacity on industrial innovation performance. We suggest that there is an inverse U-shaped relationship between technological diversity and industrial innovation performance. Moreover, knowledge flow and knowledge capacity are hypothesised as negatively moderating the effect of technological diversity on industrial innovation performance. We use negative binomial regression to test the hypotheses in a panel data of 360 industry-year cases and the findings support our prediction. Managerial implications and future research directions are discussed.