The relationship between inter-firm network position and product innovationperformance with the contingent view

Abstract

Abstract: At present, there are debates on that in order to conduct product innovation, either prominent network position or entrepreneurial network position should be selected. It is possible to settle the puzzle if two moderate variables, that is, technology-oriented strategy and market dynamics, are introduced to analyze the contingent effect on innovation performance caused by these two network positions. Through the empirical study on 208 manufacturing firms in Zhejiang Province, China, it is found that these two network positions both have positive effects on product innovation performance, and the higher the firm's technology-oriented strategy is, the more significant the positive effects will be. The higher the market dynamics is, the more significant positive effects on product innovation performance the entrepreneurial network position will have, however, the negative moderate effects of market dynamics on the relationship between prominent network position and product innovation performance is insignificant. The conclusions not only clarify the detailed context for the utility of different network position, but also provide implications on how to choose appropriate network position for conducting product innovation of firms.

Key words: contingent view, network position, product innovation, technology-oriented strategy, market dynamics

CLC Number:

F270.2

Peng Xinmin, Wu Lijuan, Wang Lin. The relationship between inter-firm network position and product innovationperformance with the contingent view[J]. Science Research Management, 2012, (8): 137-145.

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