Abandoning innovation activities and performance: The moderating role of openness

Firms are encouraged to continually initiate innovation activities as part of their new product development processes and to be open to the use of external knowledge sources. Yet, many are abandoned. Openness to external knowledge sources and the experience of abandoning innovation activities are, therefore, becoming a part of an organization’s reality and innovation strategy. In this paper, we aim to explore how the experience of having abandoned an innovation activity can affect innovation performance and the role two key dimensions of openness, external search breadth and formal innovation collaboration breadth, play. Using data from the UK Innovation Survey, we find that the experience of having abandoned an innovation activity leads to improved innovation performance and that this is negatively moderated by the two dimensions of openness. When external search breadth is high, i.e. when an organization engages with a higher number of different types of knowledge sources, the link between abandoning innovation activities and innovation performance weakens. Similarly, when formal innovation collaboration breadth is high, i.e. the breadth of a firm’s formal collaboration relationships is high, the link between abandoning innovation activities and innovation performance also weakens. We conclude by discussing the theoretical and practical implications of our findings.     

创新目标、信息来源与创新成功关系实证研究

由于企业自身知识和能力的局限性,创新搜索是其获得所需资源、推动创新发展的有效方式。现有研究表明,企业所采取的创新搜索策略会对其创新成果有显著的影响。采取开放式创新模式能够使企业接触到原本难以获得的资源,并对内部创新的驱动因素产生影响,促进创新的绩效。另外,对企业认知过程的研究也指出了创新搜索广度在消除其认知偏误方面的重要性。当面对创新风险带来的不确定性时,企业可以通过增加创新搜索的广度来有效应对。除了拥有多个创新目标之外,企业也可以通过增加创新信息来源数量来提升创新成功的可能性。本文以创新目标、信息来源与创新成功之间的关系为切入点,主要探讨了创新搜索广度对创新成功的影响程度,检验了创新搜索的"广种"效应。本研究主要回答以下三个问题:首先,企业的创新目标广度是否会提升其创新成功可能性?其次,企业的创新信息来源广度是否会提升其创新成功可能性?另外,创新搜索广度(包括创新目标广度与创新信息来源广度)与企业创新成功之间的关系是否会受到单一依赖性的影响?针对这三个问题,本文通过经济学与统计学相结合的理论分析建立了理论框架,并运用2008年中国企业创新调查数据进行了大样本(共包括30个制造业细分行业的870家企业信息)的实证分析,对创新搜索广度、创新信息来源广度对企业创新成功可能性的作用以及单一依赖性的影响进行了检验,发现并总结出关于我国制造业企业创新搜索"广种"效应的规律。研究发现:企业的创新目标广度与其创新成功可能性正向相关,即企业的创新目标越多,其创新成功可能性越大;企业的创新信息来源广度与其创新成功可能性正向相关,即企业的创新信息来源越多,其创新成功可能性越大;另外,企业的单一信息来源依赖性会负向调节信息来源广度对创新成功可能性的正向作用,但并不会完全抵消其正向影响。替换变量、分组回归等稳定性检验的结果进一步支持了本研究结论的正确性与可靠性。研究结论证明,我国制造业企业中创新搜索确实存在"广种"正效应,无论是增加创新目标还是扩展创新信息来源都对企业创新活动的成功有着显著的正向影响;同时,若企业对于少数创新信息来源依赖性过高,这种单一信息来源依赖性会削弱信息来源广度的正向作用,减小创新搜索的"广种"正效应。     

外部知识搜寻、大数据能力与企业创新

    企业创新离不开对外部知识的利用和搜寻,大数据技术能让企业在各种领域深层次地获取全面、完整的数据。因此本文探讨了外部知识搜寻对企业创新能力的影响。同时,将大数据能力的调节作用纳入考虑,探讨其在外部知识搜寻与企业创新之间的调节效果。研究中采用无反应偏差检验分析和同源偏差检验分析检验了数据的有效性;采用回归分析法来探讨各研究变量间关系并验证研究假设。研究结果显示外部知识搜寻深度和广度对激进式创新及渐进式创新均有正向影响,其中,搜寻广度对渐进式创新影响较大,搜寻深度则对激进式创新影响较大。在进行外部知识深度与广度搜寻时,大数据能力发挥显著正向作用。大数据能力对激进式创新和渐进式创新都有正向影响。大数据能力在外部知识搜寻深度与渐进式创新和激进式创新关系中有正向调节作用,在外部知识搜寻广度与渐进式创新和激进式创新的关系中调节作用发挥不明显。     

Beyond industry–university links: Sourcing knowledge for innovation from consultants, private research organisations and the public science-base

This paper explores the use of specialist knowledge providers as sources of information in the innovation activities of manufacturing and service firms. Specialist knowledge providers are consultancies, private research organisations and the public science-base (i.e., universities and the government research laboratories). These may be engaged by firms in co-operative arrangement for innovation or as informal sources of information. We find, as anticipated, that amongst other factors specialist knowledge providers are more likely to be engaged by firms with more open approaches to innovation, those with high levels of absorptive capacity, those with greater social capital and networking capabilities, as well as by those with deeper commitments to innovation. Overall, the use of specialist knowledge providers tends to complement firms’ own internal innovation activities and to complement other external sources of knowledge. Moreover, the individual types of specialist knowledge providers tend to complement rather than substitute for one another. Beyond this we find significant differences in the types of specialist knowledge providers used by manufacturing and service firms. Although service firms are more likely than manufacturers to use specialist knowledge providers, they are more likely to engage consultants, whilst their links with research-based organisations, including the public science-base, are weaker. We ask whether there is a case for increasing the extent to which the public science-base undertakes activities that are relevant to innovation in the services.     

基于元分析的跨界搜索与企业创新绩效关系研究

跨界搜索在企业创新活动中的作用日益凸显,相关研究也非常活跃,但结果仍存在差异。基于此,本文对2001-2019年期间的53篇实证文献、26812个样本的55个效应值进行了元分析,证实了跨界搜索对企业创新绩效的促进作用,并且发现,企业的国别差异、行业特征、创新能力能够调节跨界搜索对其创新绩效的贡献程度,中国企业、制造业企业、非高创新能力企业的跨界搜索活动对创新绩效的积极影响更为显著;跨知识边界的搜索均对企业创新绩效存在显著的正向影响,但程度上存在差异,具体表现在,扩大搜索宽度比加强搜索深度积极影响更大,本地搜索的促进作用比非本地搜索更大,市场知识跨界搜索的积极影响比技术知识跨界搜索更大。     

全球知识搜索与企业创新：东道国选择之困

本文将2008-2011年中国科技部企业创新数据库、世界银行全球治理数据库和Hofstede关于文化的研究数据合并，基于东道国视角，研究东道国正式制度和文化制度对全球知识搜索与创新绩效关系的调节作用。实证结果表明外部知识搜索促进了企业创新绩效，前人提出的倒U型关系曲线的“拐点”尚未出现。进一步结合东道国制度因素对其探讨，发现东道国正式制度中的法律规则与监管质量负向调节搜索行为与创新绩效的关系；而文化制度中的长期导向正向调节二者之间的关系，权力距离的负向调节作用未出现。此外，我们还发现在上述东道国制度调节下全球知识搜索所实现的中国企业创新，仍以渐进式创新为主，颠覆式创新则略显乏力。     

创新源分散化与企业知识搜索开放度关系研究

为探讨创新源分散化趋势下,不同类型企业知识搜索开放度的策略制定。本文从专利的角度出发,探讨创新源分散化与企业知识搜索开放度的关系,同时探究了企业技术多样性、企业规模这两个变量对上述关系的调节作用。通过专利的数据的实证检验得出,创新源分散化对企业知识搜索宽度有正向影响作用,而对知识搜索深度有负向影响作用,同时技术多样性先促进创新源分散化程度对企业知识搜索宽度的正向影响作用,后抑制这种作用;企业规模促进创新源分散化对企业知识搜索宽度的正向影响作用,抑制创新源分散化对企业知识搜索深度的负向影响作用。     

知识网络嵌入情境如何激活企业双元创新？——基于QCA的研究

由于双元创新存在目的和特征的差异,它们对创新环境也有不同的要求。探究创新环境中不同要素的联动作用与不同类型创新的关系对全面把握创新发展理念具有重要意义。基于集合论思想,构建包含知识网络嵌入、知识资源管理以及组织惯例三个层次六个因素在内的企业双元创新影响机制模型,通过对171家创新集群样本企业进行模糊集定性比较分析,研究发现：知识网络嵌入情境下实现高突破性创新有两类构型,类型1强调知识搜索与知识创造策略的组合,类型2强调知识网络嵌入下探索惯例与知识创造的组合、利用惯例与知识搜索的组合、知识共享条件缺失下网络治理机制与知识搜索、知识创造的协同作用;实现高渐进性创新也包括两类构型,类型1强调知识搜索与知识共享策略的组合,类型2强调知识网络嵌入下利用惯例与知识共享的组合、探索惯例与知识搜索的组合、知识创造条件缺失下网络治理机制与知识共享、知识搜索的协同作用。研究结果为解释企业双元创新提供新的视角,也为科技管理部门有效引导企业双元创新提供多个指导路径。     

组织调节定向、网络位置与创新搜寻

主要研究调节定向对不同类型的创新搜寻的影响，并探索网络位置的中介作用。在理论分析的基础上，构建研究的理论模型，并提出研究假设，使用我国企业创新实践数据进行实证分析检验。结果显示，预防定向对辅助型创新搜寻具有正向影响，促进定向与辅助型创新搜寻之间存在倒U型关系；仅促进定向对互补型创新搜寻具有正向驱动作用；网络中心性对两种创新搜寻均具有正向影响；而网络结构洞仅与互补型创新搜寻间的正向关系得到验证；在调节定向与创新搜寻之间，网络位置还充当了重要的中介作用。研究结论有助于辅助企业创新决策，增强创新管理的理论研究对企业创新实践的引领，对企业从更深层次上把握合作创新行为、提升创新能力以及获取持续竞争优势具有重要意义。     

Search patterns and absorptive capacity: Low- and high-technology sectors in European countries

Searching for externally available knowledge has been characterised as a vital part of the innovation process. Previous research has, however, almost exclusively focused on high-technology environments, largely ignoring the substantial low- and medium-technology sectors of modern economies. We argue that firms from low- and high-technology sectors differ in their search patterns and that these mediate the relationship between innovation inputs and outputs. Based on a sample of 4500 firms from 13 European countries, we find that search patterns in low-technology industries focus on market knowledge and that they differ from technology sourcing activities in high-technology industries.     

Searching for innovation knowledge: insight into KIBS companies

The paper analyses the activity of research for “innovation knowledge”—here defined as knowledge that can lead to the introduction of service innovations—by Knowledge-Intensive Business Services (KIBS) companies. It proposes a classification of the possible search approaches adopted by those companies based on two dimensions: the pro-activity of search efforts and the source primarily used. Such classification is then discussed on the basis of the findings of a multiple case-study investigation involving 15 Italian and Polish KIBS companies. The study confirms that KIBS firms follow various approaches to acquire knowledge for innovation: some companies adopt a passive behaviour (i.e. innovative ideas come as a kind of side effect of their daily business activities), while others an active one (namely, they actively search for new ideas originating from various sources); some rely more on internal resources (employees, in-house R&D, internal documents, etc.), while others on external sources (clients, suppliers, service providers, universities, etc.). The results of the study have implications both for research and management that are discussed in the conclusions.     

自有知识、知识溢出与区域创新产出

立足于区域边界的内外部视角,将创新活动的知识资源划分为自有知识和知识溢出两部分,利用2009—2016年中国30个省（市、自治区）的面板数据,运用OLS和分位数回归方法,实证分析了自有知识、知识溢出对区域创新产出的影响。OLS回归结果表明：自有知识对区域创新产出具有显著正向影响,而知识溢出的影响显著为负;自有知识的主效应大于知识溢出,且二者在影响区域创新过程中存在显著的协同效应。分位数回归结果表明：随着分位点的提高,自有知识对区域创新产出的促进效应先升后降;知识溢出对区域创新产出除在0.25分位点没有显著影响外,在其他分位点均存在显著负向影响;自有知识与知识溢出的交互效应在区域创新产出不同分位点的影响不一致。     

Practicing secrecy in open innovation – The case of a military firm

In order to keep up with the pace of innovation, military firms have recently launched a series of open innovation (OI) initiatives to search for and integrate external knowledge into their internal development process. Adopting OI in such a secretive environment unlocks new possibilities to analyze how firms can pursue openness and secrecy. This article builds on a qualitative research conducted inside a large military firm that has implemented an inbound OI strategy. Relying on multiple case studies and interviews with individual players involved in the firm's OI initiatives, we analyzed how these players deploy secrecy practices when participating to OI projects. They actually combine cognitive practices (aiming at modulating the contextual depth of the knowledge revealed through reframing) with relational practices (aiming at controlling the visibility and exposure of this knowledge). We highlight how these combinations evolve during the lifecycle of OI partnerships. By emphasizing different modes by which individual actors practice secrecy in OI, we contribute to previous research addressing how organizations navigate the paradox of openness. Besides, this study proposes new theoretical insights on the role and features of secrecy practices in innovation activities, and thus contributes to the emerging research field of managerial secrecy.     

企业外部社会联系对破坏性创新的影响研究

企业创新活动总是嵌入在特定的社会情境之中。基于合作对象差异,将企业外部社会联系分为供应链联系、竞争对手联系和知识生产服务机构联系三类,并运用180份珠三角企业调查问卷数据实证探讨它们与企业破坏性创新之间的复杂关系。结果发现,供应链联系对企业破坏性创新具有正向线性影响;竞争对手联系与企业破坏性创新之间存在正“U”型关系;而知识生产服务机构联系与企业破坏性创新之间存在倒“U”关系。研究结论为企业在实施和管理破坏性创新活动中如何有效利用外部社会联系提供实证依据和实践启示。     

企业平衡式创新搜寻及其阶段效应-间断性平衡还是同时性平衡？

开放式创新要求企业跨越组织边界搜寻外部知识。为了识别“前瞻-反应型”二元搜寻平衡与企业发展阶段的动态匹配规律,基于我国中小企业调查样本进行实证分析,结果发现：平衡式搜寻对创新绩效具有显著的正向影响,但是企业在初创期和成长期的二元搜寻平衡模式存在差异。在初创期,前瞻型与反应型两类搜寻策略间不存在互补效应,且二元均衡程度过高或差异过大,均不利于企业创新;而在成长期,前瞻型与反应型两类搜寻策略间存在互补效应,且同时性平衡程度越高,创新绩效越好。据此探讨了企业在不同阶段的最佳平衡模式,即初创期的企业选择“间断性平衡”较为合适,进入成长期后,企业需要将平衡模式转换为“同时性平衡”。     

From knowledge to added value: A comparative, panel-data analysis of the innovation value chain in Irish and Swiss manufacturing firms

The innovation value chain (IVC) divides the innovation process into three separate links or activities: knowledge gathering, knowledge transformation and knowledge exploitation. Here, we report a comparative panel data analysis of the IVC in Ireland and Switzerland. Both economies are small, very open and depend significantly on innovation to maintain competitive advantage. In recent years, however, R&D and innovation growth in Ireland has been markedly stronger than that in Switzerland. We investigate these differences through the ‘lens’ of the IVC. Significant similarities exist between some aspects of firms’ innovation behaviour in each country: strong complementarities emerge between external knowledge sources and between firms’ internal and external knowledge. And, in both countries, in-house R&D and links to customers prove important drivers of innovation. Innovation drives productivity growth in different ways in the two countries, however, through product change in Switzerland and through process change in Ireland. Other differences in the determinants of innovation performance linked to ownership and firms’ institutional context emphasise the systemic nature of innovation and the legacy of past patterns of industrial development.     

中小企业的知识搜索方向、吸收能力与双元创新——基于多重中介效应分析

通过对江苏253家中小企业的问卷调研,用探索性因子分析法将知识搜索方向分为三种,借助多重中介效应法分析知识搜索方向、吸收能力和双元创新之间的关系。研究发现,中小企业知识搜索方向可分为三种,供应链搜索、平行企业搜索和创新服务机构搜索;知识搜索方向存在多条显著的中介路径影响双元创新;供应链搜索对渐进式创新的作用更大,而平行企业搜索和创新服务机构搜索对突破式创新的作用更大;吸收能力对突破式创新的影响更大;渐进式创新对突破式创新有显著影响。     

出口活动、吸收能力、研发合作与创新绩效

    创新绩效提升是企业可持续发展的重要议题。已有研究基本构建了内部知识创造系统、外部知识获取系统和创新绩效三者之间的研究框架,但外部知识获取系统并没有包含企业出口要素。本文尝试以中国209家高技术产业上市公司为样本,在外部知识获取系统中纳入出口要素,拓展构建了创新绩效的研究框架,利用结构方程模型探讨企业出口活动、研发合作、吸收能力和创新绩效四者之间的关系。研究结果证实了吸收能力是影响企业创新绩效的重要因素,进一步发现吸收能力不仅能直接促进创新绩效,还在出口活动、研发合作对创新绩效的影响中存在中介作用;高技术企业的出口活动与吸收能力之间同时存在“自我选择”与“出口学习”效应;研发合作、吸收能力与出口活动之间存在“良性循环”。     

网络搜寻结构类型的探索及作用机理研究

本文主要探索合作创新网络背景下企业网络化搜寻的主要结构类型及其作用机理,首先,借鉴扎根理论的研究方法,通过三次深度访谈,发现知识搜寻、关系搜寻和惯例搜寻是企业网络搜寻的主要结构类型。同时,以西安高新区高技术企业合作网络等为对象进行问卷调查,对网络搜寻的作用机理进行实证检验,结果显示,适度的关系搜寻有助于企业获得更高的合作创新绩效;知识搜寻不仅有利于合作创新绩效的提升,而且还在关系搜寻与合作创新绩效之间充当部分中介作用;惯例搜寻与合作创新绩效之间的正向关系通过实证检验,而且惯例搜寻还正向调控知识搜寻对合作创新绩效的影响。     

组织忘却、知识搜寻与绿色创新

组织忘却对创新的促进作用已受到关注,但鲜有文献研究组织忘却与绿色创新的关系,也甚少有学者分析知识搜寻在组织忘却与绿色创新关系中的作用。在相关文献研究的基础上,将知识搜寻分为广度知识搜寻和深度知识搜寻,以知识搜寻为中介变量,通过211家企业的问卷调查,运用层次回归分析方法,对组织忘却、知识搜寻与绿色创新关系展开实证研究。研究发现：组织忘却对绿色创新、广度知识搜寻和深度知识搜寻均有显著的正向影响,广度知识搜寻和深度知识搜寻对绿色创新有积极影响,广度知识搜寻和深度知识搜寻在组织忘却与绿色创新关系中起完全中介作用,深度知识搜寻在组织忘却与绿色创新关系中的中介效应大于广度知识搜寻的中介效应。