The impact of dual network structure on firm performance: the moderating effect of innovation strategy

ABSTRACT

Firm innovation is embedded in a collaboration network among researchers and a knowledge network composed of knowledge elements; the two networks are decoupled. Guided by social network theory, this study puts forward the definition and the classification of firm dual network structure, probes into the influence of dual network structure on firm performance, and explores the alignment between innovation strategy and firm dual network structure. We conduct an empirical study of 183 listed companies in China from 2004 to 2018. It is found that the four types of dual network structure all have positive impacts on firm performance, and the impact of a collaboration network is slightly higher than that of a knowledge network. Besides, innovation strategy plays a positive moderating role in the relationship between dual network structure and firm performance. Our findings provide new ideas for firms to identify and optimise knowledge and collaboration network structures and match them with innovation strategy to improve performance.     

探索性创新、开发性创新与企业绩效的关系——基于组织结构特性调节效应的实证分析

利用251家企业样本数据,将组织结构特性作为权变调节因素纳入探索性创新和开发性创新与企业绩效关系的考察中,构建了一个调节效应分析模型,利用回归分析进行假设检验。结果显示:探索性创新和开发性创新是提高企业绩效的两种重要途径,二者平衡有助于绩效提升、不平衡有损于绩效提升;组织结构特性不同,其对两种创新方式与企业绩效的关系的调节作用不同,其中,组织分权化对探索性创新与企业绩效的关系起正向调节作用,组织正式化对开发性创新与企业绩效的关系起正向调节作用,组织联通性则没有显示出调节作用。     

Strategic networks and new product performance: the mediating role of ambidextrous innovation

In this study we examine the relationship between strategic networks and new product performance from the perspective of ambidextrous innovation (i.e. combining exploratory innovation and exploitative innovation) using a sample of 323 manufacturing firms in the transitional economy of China. Our empirical analyses present several interesting findings: (a) strategic networks are positively related to firms’ new product performance; (b) ambidextrous innovation has a positive effect on firms’ new product performance – that is, the combination of exploratory innovation and exploitative innovation positively affects the firm's new product performance, while the lack of balance between exploratory innovation and exploitative innovation negatively affects the firm's new product performance; and (c) ambidextrous innovation mediates the relationship between strategic networks and new product performance. Our findings provide scholars and managers with a better understanding of the key role played by the simultaneous adoption of exploratory and exploitative innovation in the relationship between strategic networks and new product performance.     

多重网络嵌入、市场化水平与双元创新

基于资源基础理论和制度理论,利用2000-2016年电子信息产业专利数据,遵循“制度—资源—绩效”思路,将市场化水平、网络嵌入和双元创新纳入同一框架,利用负二项回归模型,实证了多重网络嵌入和双元创新的关系,并检验了市场化水平的调节作用。结果表明：①组织的创新网络嵌入对探索式创新具有倒U型影响,而对利用式创新具有显著负向影响;②知识网络嵌入对探索式创新和利用式创新均具有倒U型影响;③市场化水平能够促进网络嵌入对创新的倒U型关系,降低网络嵌入对创新的抑制作用。     

双元联盟网络如何影响突破式创新——技术能力与网络惯例的调节作用

不同类型联盟网络涉及不同程度的知识共享和知识泄露风险，并有可能对突破式创新产生差异化影响。选取合肥、南京和苏州253个企业为样本，探究企业探索性联盟网络和开发性联盟网络分别对突破式创新的直接效应，以及技术能力和网络惯例等内外部情境变量对两种关系的调节效应。结果发现：探索性联盟网络对突破式创新具有倒U型效应；开发性联盟网络对突破式创新不具有曲线效应，仅是正向线性关系；内外部不同情境变量对探索性、开发性联盟网络具有不同调节效应。其中，技术能力仅对探索性联盟网络与突破式创新间关系具有显著正向调节作用；网络惯例对开发性联盟网络与突破式创新间关系具有显著正向调节作用。研究结论对组建企业联盟和推动企业技术创新发展具有一定指导意义。     

战略导向对企业双元技术创新的差异化影响——技术环境的调节作用

聚焦双元技术创新的产生机制,利用问卷调查数据,实证分析了不同战略导向对企业双元技术创新的差异化影响以及技术环境对上述影响关系的调节作用。研究结果显示:战略导向对企业双元技术创新具有差异化影响,其中创业导向更有利于驱动探索式技术创新,而客户导向更有利于驱动利用式技术创新;技术环境对两者关系具有调节作用,技术动荡程度正向调节创业导向与双元技术创新的关系,负向调节客户导向与双元技术创新的关系。     

双层网络嵌入下结构洞对企业二元创新的影响研究

网络结构特征影响企业知识转移与知识组合效果,进而对创新绩效产生复杂作用。利用我国165家上市企业2007—2018年专利面板数据,实证检验企业知识与协同双层网络嵌入对二元创新绩效的影响,并分析战略柔性和开放度对上述关系的调节作用。研究结果表明,企业知识网络结构洞正向影响利用式创新绩效,负向影响探索式创新绩效;协同网络结构洞与二元创新均存在负相关关系。同时,战略柔性和开放度调节双层网络结构洞与二元创新的关系,且变量间存在有效匹配关系：知识网络结构洞—开放度促进利用式创新绩效提升,而协同网络结构洞—战略柔性促进探索式创新绩效提升。研究结论为解决结构洞与企业创新关系的分歧带来新思路,同时为企业创新绩效提升提供理论借鉴。     

Evolution of network relations,enterprise learning,and cluster innovation networks: the case of the Yuyao plastics industry cluster

Industrial clusters have become a crucial carrier of economic globalisation. However, constrained by the nation’s industrial development model, clusters in China have long been relegated to a low-end position. This study, based on the perspective of focal enterprises, analysed the relationships among network relations, enterprise learning, and the evolution of cluster innovation networks and explored the three formation stages of a cluster innovation network by examining the example of the Yuyao plastics industry cluster. The results showed (1) that focal enterprises exert spin-off effects on enterprise learning and are critical for innovation networking and (2) that weak network ties facilitate exploratory learning, whereas strong ties influence exploitative learning. In addition, tie strength showed a coevolutionary feature. Furthermore, the results showed that (3) this evolutionary process demonstrated a phase-changing characteristic, with government policy exhibiting substantial effects on focal enterprises, organisational learning mechanisms, and cluster innovation networks.     

个人知识吸收能力与双元创新关系研究

以往文献对于吸收能力的研究大都集中在组织层面，缺乏个人层次的探讨。回归吸收能力概念本质，从个人层面出发，将知识吸收分为识别、同化和应用3个阶段，通过采集与分析上海、重庆、西安、广州、长沙等地的113份技术主管有效问卷数据，探讨个人知识吸收对双元创新的影响。结果表明：个人知识识别有助于探索式创新和挖掘式创新的实现；个人知识同化导致了探索式创新和挖掘式创新之间的差别，探索式创新需要个人同化能力，挖掘式创新则不需要；个人知识应用对双元创新均无作用。结论可为企业管理者以鼓励员工正确定位知识吸收，促进企业双元创新提供借鉴。     

开放式创新背景下新兴企业创新模式对创新绩效的影响

在回顾创新模式现有文献的基础上,以中国821家新兴企业为研究对象,就开放式创新背景下新兴企业创新模式对创新绩效的影响进行研究。得出以下结论：探索式创新和利用式创新均会对新兴企业创新绩效产生积极影响,但新兴企业同时进行探索式创新和利用式创新会对创新绩效的提升产生负向影响;在开放式创新背景下,新兴企业与行业价值链伙伴的垂直联结关系会正向影响企业探索式创新对创新绩效的作用,而负向影响企业利用式创新对创新绩效的作用;市场多元化会正向影响企业探索式创新与创新绩效的关系,而对企业利用式创新与绩效的关系不会产生显著影响。     

员工-顾客认同、互动式替代学习与服务创新的机制研究

知识与技术的快速迭代,使得服务业企业进行服务创新的挑战更加艰巨,员工对知识与技术类操作性资源的应用能力起到关键作用。基于社会网络理论与知识基础观理论构建研究知识密集型服务业企业服务创新的微观路径,对322个服务业企业问卷调查进行实证分析。研究结果表明员工-顾客认同对员工服务创新有正向影响,并可以通过员工的互动式替代学习影响服务创新;知识治理对员工-顾客认同与互动式替代学习的关系具有显著的调节效应。     

模块化对产品创新影响的实证研究——组织学习和关系网络的调节效应简

利用我国长三角地区、珠三角地区和环渤海地区三大经济圈的124家高新技术企业的调研数据,实证分析了模块化设计对不同层次的产品创新（包括架构创新和模块创新）的影响,并探讨了组织学习和关系网络对该影响的调节效应。研究结果显示：模块化设计对产品模块创新和产品架构创新均具有显著影响;探索性学习越深入,模块化对产品模块创新和架构创新的影响越大、越显著;开发性学习也对产品模块创新和架构创新具有调节效应,但其影响程度明显低于探索性创新;关系网络对产品模块创新具有显著的调节作用,而对产品架构创新不具有调节效应。     

董事会网络位置、市场化进程与企业双元创新

基于资源基础理论，以2010-2018年沪深A股上市企业为样本，从结构性嵌入角度研究董事会网络位置对企业双元创新的影响，并检验市场化进程对二者间关系的调节作用。研究发现：①董事会网络中心度对探索式创新的影响呈倒U型，对开发式创新的影响呈正U型；②市场化进程能够增强董事会网络中心度对探索式创新的倒U型影响以及对开发式创新的正U型影响；③将企业战略类型纳入研究框架，发现董事会网络中心度对探索式创新的倒U型影响以及市场化进程的调节作用在防御型企业与进攻型企业中均显著，而董事会网络中心度对开发式创新的正U型影响以及市场化进程的调节作用主要表现在进攻型企业中。     

如何共舞?服务商业模式创新与技术创新对企业绩效的交互影响

基于权变视角与企业网络视角，剖析效率型、新颖型服务商业模式创新与利用式、探索式技术创新匹配对制造企业绩效的影响效应，并识别网络中心性的中介作用。研究发现：①新颖型服务商业模式创新与利用式技术创新组合匹配能够积极提升企业绩效，效率型、新颖型服务商业模式创新与探索式技术创新组合匹配对企业绩效具有抑制作用；②效率型、新颖型服务商业模式创新，利用式、探索式技术创新均能显著提升企业网络中心性和企业绩效；③网络中心性在服务商业模式创新对企业绩效的影响中发挥完全中介作用。     

制度逻辑与新创企业技术创新模式:往期绩效和介入时间的调节作用

基于5省236家新创企业的调研数据,从利益相关者的制度逻辑入手,分析了风险投资者和政府机构对新创企业探索式创新和利用式创新的影响,以及企业往期绩效和利益相关者介入新创企业发展时间的调节作用。研究发现:(1)获得风险投资机构资金的新创企业倾向于采取利用式创新,而获得政府机构资金扶持的新创企业倾向于探索式创新;(2)新创企业往期绩效越好,其在获得风险投资机构资金后采取利用式创新的可能性越小,而在获得政府机构资金扶持后采取探索式创新的可能性越大;(3)风险投资机构介入新创企业发展的时间越长,新创企业采取利用式创新的可能性越大,而政府机构介入新创企业发展的时间越长,新创企业采取探索式创新的可能性越大。     

Knowledge source strategy and enterprise innovation performance: dynamic analysis based on machine learning

By employing ergodic theory and applying the most advanced machine-leaning methods, this study exploits the rules of multi-dimensional, phased and non-linear dynamic evolution between the breadth and depth of knowledge sources and the innovation performance. The following conclusions are obtained. First, regarding explorative innovation, when both the breadth and depth of the knowledge source are at a low level, the enhancement of the breadth of the knowledge source may rapidly lift explorative innovation performance; when the knowledge source is at a high level, the theory of ‘ambidexterity balance’ is more applicable to find a balance between the breadth and the depth of the knowledge source for the enhancement of explorative innovation performance. Second, in terms of exploitative innovation, ‘ambidexterity balance’ theory can be applied at all levels. In other words, the balance of the breadth and the depth of the knowledge sources greatly enhances the exploitative innovation performance.     

组织遗忘、双元学习与跨界创新关系研究——基于冗余资源的调节作用

本文探索性地构建了以双元学习(包括利用式学习和探索式学习)为中介变量,冗余资源为调节变量的组织遗忘对跨界创新影响的概念模型,运用结构方程模型、Bootstrap分析和多元回归分析模型对其验证,结果表明:组织遗忘对跨界创新具有显著正向影响;利用式学习和探索式学习在组织遗忘与跨界创新之间具有各别和连续中介作用;冗余资源在组织遗忘与跨界创新之间起正向调节作用.     

Structural heterogeneity and proximity mechanism of China’s inter-regional innovation cooperation network

ABSTRACT

Based on the cooperation patent data between 31 provinces in China from 1985 to 2017, this paper portrays the topological structure, spatial pattern and proximity mechanism of China’s inter-regional innovation cooperation network by the graph theory, spatial statistical methods and the quadratic assignment procedure model. The conclusions are as follows: (1) the topological structure of China’s inter-regional innovation cooperation forms a hierarchical network with Beijing as the core and it exhibits a typical small-world property and ‘core–periphery’ structure. (2) In terms of spatial distribution characteristics, the ‘quadruple’ with the Beijing–Tianjin region, Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta and Sichuan as the peaks has become the backbone of the inter-regional innovation cooperation network in China. At the same time, the spatial differentiation of the three indicators of degree centrality, median centrality and intensity centrality is obvious. (3) In terms of proximity mechanism, geographical, institutional and cognitive proximity exert a significant effect on China’s inter-regional innovation cooperation network linkage. However, there are significant differences in the effects of various proximity elements on China’s regional innovation network.     

社会资本组件对个体双元创新的作用机制研究

社会资本对个体双元创新的影响在学术界受到重视,厘清社会资本与个体双元创新的关系对有效提升企业创新能力至关重要。基于社会资本的3个维度提出3对组件(Components),即结构维度的结合网络与桥接网络、关系维度的普遍信任与特殊信任以及认知维度的共同愿景与组织多样化,探究每对组件对个体利用性创新与探索性创新的差异性影响,分析各组件缓解个体因兼顾利用性与探索性创新所面临时间冲突困境的平衡作用,构建双元兼顾的一致型和适应型社会资本理论架构,为管理者善用和慎用社会资本组件、提升员工双元创新能力提供理论依据。     

How process improvement efforts can drive organisational innovativeness

In this study, we draw upon literature in technology and innovation management to theorise about how process improvement efforts in organisations can drive the exploratory activity that is generally associated with more radical forms of innovation. We develop a set of propositions on how process improvement efforts might directly and indirectly drive exploration and more radical forms of organisational innovation. These propositions are organised into four categories: (1) ‘Direct’ – how exploratory forms of process improvement can directly drive innovativeness; (2) ‘Resource Capacity’ – how process improvement can increase the resource capacity that drives innovativeness; (3) ‘Knowledge’ – how process improvement efforts can strengthen knowledge resources that drive innovativeness; and (4) ‘Management Vision’ – how process improvement efforts can influence the managerial vision that moderates the effect of process improvement efforts on innovativeness.