Science Research Management ›› 2015, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (3): 49-56.

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A study on the relationship between open innovation, absorptive capacity and firm's innovation performance

Zhang Zhengang, Chen Zhiming, Li Yunjian   

  1. School of Business Administration, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, Guangdong, China
  • Received:2013-11-19 Revised:2014-10-24 Online:2015-03-25 Published:2015-03-20

Abstract: Currently, open innovation has become a research frontier in the field of international enterprise technology innovation management, but related theoretical and empirical research about the relationship between open innovation, absorptive capacity and innovation performance is still insufficient. Based on the survey study of 119 enterprises in Southern China, the paper aims to explore this issue. Some interesting findings appear. First, both of inbound open innovation and outbound open innovation have significant positive effect on innovation performance. Second, realized absorptive capacity plays a complete mediating role on the relationship between inbound open innovation and innovation performance, as well as on the relationship between outbound open innovation and innovation performance. Third, potential absorptive capacity negatively moderates the impact of inbound open innovation on innovation performance. On the contrary, it positively moderates the impact of outbound open innovation on innovation performance.

Key words: inbound open innovation, outbound open innovation, potential absorptive capacity, realized absorption ability, innovation performance

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