The impact of knowledge search on innovation legitimacy from the perspective of decision rationality

FENG Xiao-Bin; MA Xiao-Shumaxiaoshu

PDF(557 KB)

Science Research Management ›› 2022, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (10) : 172-179.

The impact of knowledge search on innovation legitimacy from the perspective of decision rationality

Feng Xiaobin¹, Ma Xiaoshu²

Author information +

History +

Abstract

In the context of transformation and upgrading, enterprises try to make transformation through innovation in products, processes or business models, but the success of innovation activities is relied on legitimacy. Innovation legitimacy indicates the degree of recognition and acceptance of innovation activities by external stakeholders under the constraints of social norms and other systems. Although the impact of knowledge or resource on innovation legitimacy has attracted much attention, the relevant researches about the effect of knowledge search on innovation legitimacy have been neglected, and the decision-making situation of this impact has not been revealed. Moreover, causal reasoning and effectual reasoning are complementary to each other, but the mechanism differences of the two decision-making rationalities and the integration effect between them need to be further explored. Integrating the theory of knowledge search, innovation legitimacy and decision rationality, this paper constructs the model of adaptive search and transformative search on innovation legitimacy, as well as the moderating models of causal reasoning and effectual reasoning.
This paper firstly defines and analyzes the relevant theories and concepts of knowledge search, innovation legitimacy and decision rationality based on the literature review. The conceptual model of knowledge search effects on innovation legitimacy is put forward based on theoretical discussion. Then, data of 212 manufacturing enterprises in Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta are used to testify the research hypothesis with statistical methods, such as correlation analysis, reliability and validity analysis, and multilevel regression analysis. The results show that adaptive search has an inverted U-shaped effect on innovation legitimacy, while transformative search has a U-shaped effect on innovation legitimacy. Causal reasoning strengthens the relationship between adaptive search and innovation legitimacy, but weakens the relationship between transformative search and innovation legitimacy. However, effectual reasoning weakens the relationship between adaptive search and innovation legitimacy, but strengthens the relationship between transformative search and innovation legitimacy. Furthermore, the duality decision rationality of causal reasoning and effectual reasoning positively moderates the relationship between adaptive or transformative search and innovation legitimacy.
This research not only enriches the knowledge search and decision-making rationality, but also provides theoretical reference for manufacturing enterprises to obtain the innovation legitimacy and realize the transformation. Firstly, enterprises should balance the use of adaptive search and transformative search strategy to break through the "legitimacy threshold" of innovation at different stages of entering the market. Secondly, enterprises should pay more attention to the match of managers′ decision-making rationality and knowledge search strategy, so as to obtain innovation legitimacy. Finally, enterprises should use the duality decision rationality of causal reasoning and effectual reasoning to obtain diversified knowledge and avoid falling into the extreme situation of decision-making, so as to use different search strategies to enhance the support of stakeholders for innovation.

Key words

knowledge search / innovation legitimacy / causal reasoning / effectual reasoning

Cite this article

EndNote

Ris (Procite)

Bibtex

Download Citations

Feng Xiaobin, Ma Xiaoshu. The impact of knowledge search on innovation legitimacy from the perspective of decision rationality[J]. Science Research Management. 2022, 43(10): 172-179

References

[1]李靖华, 黄继生.网络嵌入、创新合法性与突破性创新的资源获取[J].科研管理, 2017, 38(4):10-18 [2]Li Jinghua, Huang Jisheng.Network embeddedness,innovation legitimacy and radical innovation resource acquisition[J].Science Research Management, 2017, 38(4):10-18 [3]Suchman, M.C. Managing legitimacy: Strategic and institutional approaches[J].Academy of Management Review, 1995, 20(3):571-610 [4]Zhang, HJ., Young, M. N., Tan, J., et al. .How Chinese companies deal with a legitimacy imbalance when acquiring firms from developed economies[J].[J]. Journal of World Business, 2018, (53): 752-767 [5]奉小斌.集群新创企业平行搜索对产品创新绩效的影响: 管理者联系的调节作用[J].科研管理, 2017, 38(10):22-30 [6]Feng Xiaobin.The effect of parallel search of new cluster ventures on product innovation performance: The moderating role of managerial ties[J].Science Research Management, 2017, 38(10):22-30 [7]Tsinopoulos, C.Sousa,CM. P.,Yan,J. Process innovation: Open innovation and the moderating role of the motivation to achieve legitimacy[J].Journal of Product Innovation Management, 2018, 35(1):27-48 [8]Rosenkopf, L.Nerkar,ABeyond local search: Boundary-spanning,exploration,and impact in the optical disk industry[J].Strategic Management Journal, 2001, 22(4):287-306 [9]王炳成, 张士强, 王俐, 等.创新行为、资源充足度和创新合法性——与创新型文化匹配的实证研究[J].科学学研究, 2016, 34(8):1263-1271 [10]Wang Bingcheng, Zhang Shiqiang, Wang Li, et al.Innovation behavior，resource adequacy and innovation legitimacy: An empirical research on fit with innovative culture[J].Studies in Science of Science, 2016, 34(8):1264-1271 [11]Zimmerman, M.A.,Zeitz,GJ. Beyond survival: Achieving new venture growth by building legitimacy[J].Academy of Management Review, 2002, 27(3):414-431 [12]王玲玲, 赵文红, 魏泽龙.创业制度环境、网络关系强度对新企业组织合法性的影响研究[J].管理学报, 2017, 14(9):1324-1331 [13]Wang Lingling, Zhang Wenhong, Wei Zelong.The Strength of network ties and organizational legitimacy in the new venture: The moderating roles of entrepreneurial institutional environments[J].Chinese Journal of Management, 2017, 14(9):1324-1331 [14]徐二明, 肖建强, 李维光.创业中的合法性阈值跨越过程研究[J].管理学报, 2018, 15(4):475-484 [15]Xu Erming, Xiao Jianqiang, Li weiguang.Processes of crossing legitimacy thresholds in entrepreneurship[J].Chinese Journal of Management, 2018, 15(4):475-484 [16]罗兴武, 项国鹏, 宁鹏, 等.商业模式创新如何影响新创企业绩效?——合法性及政策导向的作用[J]. 科学学研究, 2017(07):115-126. [17]Luo Xingwu，Xiang Guopeng，Ning Peng, et al.The impact of BMI on new venture performance: The effects of legitimacy and policy orientation[J]. Studies in Science of Science, 2017(07):115-126. [18]何霞, 苏晓华.环境动态性下新创企业战略联盟与组织合法性研究——基于组织学习视角[J].科研管理, 2016, 37(2):90-97 [19]He Xia, Su Xiaohua.The relationship between strategy alliance of new ventures and organizational legitimacy under environmental dynamism from the perspective of organizational learning[J].Science Research Management, 2016, 37(2):90-97 [20]宋晶, 陈劲.创业者社会网络、组织合法性与创业企业资源拼凑[J].科学学研究, 2019, 37(1):88-96 [21]Song Jing, Chen Jin.Entrepreneur social network,organizational legitimacy and entrepreneurial enterprise resources bricolage[J].Studies in Science of Science, 2019, 37(1):88-96 [22]郁培丽, 刘沐洋, 潘培尧.颠覆性创新合法性与企业家战略行动:研究述评与展望[J].外国经济与管理, 2019, 41(3):111-125 [23]Yu Peili, Liu Muyang, Pan Peiyao.The legitimacy of disruptive innovation and entrepreneurs’ strategic actions: A literature review and prospects[J].Foreign Economics & Management, 2019, 41(3):111-125 [24]芮正云, 罗瑾琏.企业创新搜寻策略的作用机理及其平衡——一个中国情境下的分析框架与经验证据[J]. 科学学研究, 2016(5): 771-780. [25]Rui Zhengyun, Luo Jinlian.Mechanism and balance of innovation search: A theoretical framework and empirical evidence based on the context of China[J].Studies in Science of Science, 2016, 34(5):771-780 [26]Cai, L.Guo,RP.,Fei,Y.,et al. Effectuation,exploratory learning and new venture performance: Evidence from China[J].Journal of Small Business Management, 2017, 55(3):388-403 [27]Smolka, K.M.,Verheul,I,Burmeister-Lamp,K.,et al. Get it together! Synergistic effects of causal and effectual decision-making logics on venture performance[J].Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, 2016, 42(4):571-604 [28]Yu, X.Y.,Tao,YD.,Tao,X. M.,et al. Managing uncertainty in emerging economies: The interaction effects between causation and effectuation on firm performance[J].Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 2018, 135(October):121-131 [29]Nelson, R.R.,Winter,SG. The Schumpeterian tradeoff revisited[J].American Economic Review, 1982, 72(1):114-132 [30]Flor, M.L., Cooper, S. Y., Oltra, M. J. External knowledge search, absorptive capacity and radical innovation in high-technology firms[J]. European Management Journal, 2018, (36): 183-194. [31]Ahuja, K.G.,Katila,RSomething old,something new: A longitudinal study of search behavior and new product introduction[J].The Academy of Management Journal, 2002, 45(6):1183-1194 [32]程鹏，张桂芳，余江.知识整合能力与本土企业的快速追赶——基于华星光电的分析[J].科学学研究, 2014, 32(7):1060-1069 [33]Cheng Peng, Zhnag Guifang, Yu Jiang.Knowledge integration capability and local firms’fast catching －up: the case study on CSOT[J].Studies in Science of Science, 2014, 32(7):1060-1069 [34]陈国权, 周琦玮.量变式学习和质变式学习模型的研究[J].管理科学学报, 2018, 21(10):37-51 [35]Chen Guoquan, Zhou Qiwei.Modeling quantitative-style learning and qualitative-style learning: A theoretical study[J].Journal of Management Sciences in China, 2018, 21(10):37-51 [36]Zhang, J.Duan,YL. The impact of different types of market orientation on product innovation performance: Evidence from Chinese manufacturers[J].Management Decision, 2010, 48(6):849-867 [37]Weber, M.The protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism[M]. Scribners, New York, 1958. [38]Singh, J.V.,Tucker,DJ.,House,R. J. Organizational legitimacy and the liability of newness[J].Administrative Science Quarterly, 1986, 31(2):171-193 [39]Scott, W.R. Institutions and Organizations[M]. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1995. [40]Kobarg, S., Stumpf-Wollersheim, J., Welpe, I. M. More is not always better: Effects of collaboration breadth and depth on radical and incremental innovation performance at the project level[J]. Research Policy, 2019, (48): 1-10. [41]Un, C.A.,Rodríguez,ALocal and global knowledge complementarily: R&D collaborations and innovation of foreign and domestic firms[J].Journal of International Management, 2018, 24(2):137-152 [42]Laursen, K.Salter,AOpen for innovation: The role of openness in explaining innovation performance among UK manufacturing firms[J].Strategic Management Journal, 2006, 27(2):131-150 [43]刘云, Greg, W.G. 基于评价者视角的组织合法性研究: 合法性判断[J]. 外国经济与管理, 2017, (5): 73-84+114. [44]Liu Yun, Wang, G.Greg. The research on organizational legitimacy from the evaluator perspective: Legitimacy judgement[J]. Foreign Economics & Management, 2017, (5): 73-84+114. [45]Sarasvathy, S.D. Causation and effectuation: Toward a theoretical shift from economic inevitability to entrepreneurial contingency[J].Academy of Management Review, 2001, 26(2):243-263 [46]Witbank, R.Dew,N,Read,S.,et al. What to do next? The case for non-predictive strategy[J].Strategic Management Journal, 2006, 27(10):981-998 [47]Perry, J.T.,Chandler,GN.,Markova,G. Entrepreneurial effectuation: A review and suggestions for future research[J].Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, 2012, 36(4):837-861 [48]Reymen, I.M. MJ,Andries,P.,Berends,H.,et al. Understanding dynamics of strategic decision making in venture creation: A process study of effectuation and causation[J].Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, 2015, 9(4):351-379 [49]Futterer, F., Schmidt, J., Heidenreich, S. Effectuation or causation as the key to corporate venture success? Investigating effects of entrepreneurial behaviors on business model innovation and venture performance[J]. Long Range Planning, 2018, (54): 61-84. [50]Villani, E.Linder,C,Grimaldi,R. Effectuation and causation in science-based new venture creation: A configurational approach[J].Journal of Business Research, 2018, 83(2):173-185 [51]钟榴, 余光胜, 潘闻闻.从目标导向逻辑到手段导向逻辑——初创企业产品创新流程决策[J].科研管理, 2019, 40(6):205-214 [52]Zhong Liu, Yu Guangsheng, Pan Wenwen.A shift from effectuation process logic to causation process logic: A study of decision making in the product innovation process of startups[J].Science Research Management, 2019, 40(6):205-214 [53]Welter, C.Kim,SEffectuation under risk and uncertainty: A simulation model[J].Journal of Business Venturing, 2018, 33(1):100-116 [54]Chandler, G.N.,Detienne,DR.,Mckelvie,A.,et al. Causation and effectuation processes: A validation study[J].Journal of Business Venturing, 2011, 26(3):375-390