The impact of relational behavior between enterprises on innovation flexibility

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Science Research Management ›› 2012, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (3) : 1-10,17.

Song Hua¹, Wang Lan²

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Abstract

Based on resource dependency theory and contingency theory, how various types of tie portfolios, i.e., exploratory and exploitative relationship could be beneficial to innovation flexibility is examined. Environmental competitiveness and dynamics are combined as moderators, for the how the extraneous environmental conditions have influence on the efficiency of exploratory relationship and exploitative relationship is explored. By using survey data collected from a sample of 194 firms in mainland China, it is demonstrated that exploratory and exploitative relationship are both positively related to the firms innovation flexibility. It is also found that the positive relationship between them is moderated by the level of competitiveness and dynamics in their environments. Environment dynamics positively moderates the relationship between exploratory relationship and innovation flexibility. Environment competitiveness negatively moderates the relationship between exploratory relationship and innovation flexibility; on the contrary, it positively moderates the relationship between exploitative relationship and innovation flexibility. The result means that with an increase of competitiveness, firms will employ less exploratory relationship but more exploitative relationship to enhance innovation flexibility. With an increase of dynamics, firms will employ more exploratory relationship to enhance innovation flexibility.

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exploratory relationship / exploitative relationship / innovation flexibility / environment competitiveness / environment dynamics

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Song Hua, Wang Lan. The impact of relational behavior between enterprises on innovation flexibility[J]. Science Research Management. 2012, 33(3): 1-10,17

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