虽然许多研究发现新创企业知识搜索提升产品创新绩效，但却忽视了企业相对竞争对手的搜索时机选择对其产品创新绩效的影响。文章分析了集群新创企业领先搜索和跟随搜索对产品创新绩效的影响以及管理者联系的调节作用，并以215个集群新创企业样本进行实证检验。研究结果表明：领先搜索与跟随搜索对产品创新绩效有倒U型影响；集群外部联系增强领先搜索与产品创新绩效的曲线关系；集群内部联系削弱领先搜索与产品创新绩效的曲线关系，但正向调节跟随搜索对产品创新绩效的曲线影响。这一发现丰富了平行搜索和产品创新绩效关系研究，实践上对新创企业实施创新搜索与提升产品创新绩效有指导意义。

Most studies have found the positive effects of knowledge search on product innovation performance(PIP), but few explored the relationship between rivals searching time choice and PIP. Tests using data on 215 new ventures in clusters explore the effects of leading search and following search on PIP as well as the moderating effects of managerial ties. Results indicate that (1) both leading search and following search have curvilinear (inverted U-shaped) effects on PIP ; (2) the curvilinear link between leading search and PIP is positively moderated by extra-cluster managerial ties; (3) in contrast, intra-cluster managerial ties weaken the curvilinear effect of leading search on PIP, but strengthen the curvilinear effect of following search on PIP. This paper enriches the studies that focus on the parallel search - PIP linkage. Hopefully, the findings provide guidance for new ventures to conduct innovation search and improve PIP.