外部知识搜寻对科技人才创新绩效的“双刃剑”效应：关键研发者的调节作用

摘要/Abstract

摘要： 现有外部知识搜寻对创新绩效影响的研究主要关注组织层次上的组合搜寻策略，个体层次为数不多的研究仍集中于探索对创新绩效的正向影响或负向作用，鲜有从微观主体视角通过区分创新绩效的不同维度来详实揭示外部知识搜寻的非线性影响，更鲜有关注研发人员类型的异质性影响。本研究基于美国医药专利数据，从创新数量与创新质量的双元视角，研究外部知识搜寻对科技人才创新绩效的非线性影响，以及作为企业最重要智力资本的关键研发者对这一过程的调节作用。研究表明，外部知识搜寻对创新数量与质量均产生倒U型作用；相对于一般研发人员，关键研发者的外部知识搜寻与创新数量的倒U型曲线更陡峭，但与其创新质量的倒U型曲线却更平缓。研究结论拓展了对外部知识搜寻的理论认识，揭示了关键研发者的双重调节效应，从微观主体和过程视角深化了开放式创新和组织学习理论；也启发企业研发管理者辩证认识外部知识搜寻的“双刃剑”作用，完善创新人才差异化激励政策，充分激发关键研发者的创新活力，提升企业创新能力，培育高质量发展新动能。

关键词: 外部知识搜寻, 科技人才, 创新数量, 创新质量, 关键研发者

Abstract: With regards to the impact of external knowledge search on innovation, the existing researches generally look at firm-level and mainly focus on combinatorial searching strategies. Further, some individual-level research endeavors to investigate the positive or negative effect of external knowledge search on innovation. There has been little attempt at exploring the nonlinear effects of external knowledge search by distinguishing the dimensions of innovation, and more crucially, few study investigates the heterogeneous influences of inventor types. Drawing on the U.S. pharmaceutical patents, this study investigates the nonlinear effects of external knowledge search on innovation performance from the dual perspective of quantity and quality. Further, we probe the moderating effect of key inventors, as the most important intelligent capital of enterprises, on above relationships. Results indicate that there is a curvilinear relationship, taking on an inverted U-shape, between external knowledge search on the one hand as well as innovation quantity and quality on the other. The inverted U-shaped curve of external knowledge search and innovation quantity in key inventors is steeper relative to that in general inventors, while the curve of innovation quality is flatter when compared to general ones. In theory, such conclusions enrich our understanding of external knowledge search, reveal the dual moderating effect of key inventors, and contribute to the open innovation research and organizational learning theory. In practice, our results provide suggestions for R&D managers to dialectically understand the ‘double-edged sword’ role of external knowledge search. In addition, this research offers reference for policymakers to differently stimulate scientific and technological talents and accurately grasp the characteristics of key inventors, further enhancing innovation capability and high-quality development.

Key words: external knowledge search, scientific and technological talents, innovation quantity, innovation quality, key inventors

王巍, 尹西明, 陈劲, 邢婉莹. 外部知识搜寻对科技人才创新绩效的“双刃剑”效应：关键研发者的调节作用[J]. 管理评论, 2024, 36(10): 87-99.

Wang Wei, Yin Ximing, Chen Jin, Xing Wanying. Double-edged Effect of External Knowledge Search on Talent’s Innovation Performance: The Moderating Effect of Key Inventors[J]. Management Review, 2024, 36(10): 87-99.

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