Impacts of Boundary-spanning Search, Network Routines and Ambidextrous Competence on Innovation Performance

Abstract

Abstract:

Previous studies have shown that boundary-spanning search has an important impact on enterprise innovation. And the effective combination of ambidextrous competence and network routines is not only the key to maintaining and coordinating the operation of technological innovation network, but also an important prerequisite for enterprises to obtain sustainable competitive advantage. In views of that, this paper discusses the mechanism of the effects of boundary-spanning search strategy on innovation performance from the perspective of organizational duality, especially the moderating roles that ambidextrous competence and network routines play in the impacts of both breadth search strategy and depth search strategy on innovation performance. Therefore, an empirical analysis is carried out based on the questionnaire survey data of 231 Chinese local enterprises. According to the analysis results, firstly, it is found that there exists a significant positive linear relationship between search breadth and radical innovation performance, while an inverse U-shaped relationship exists between search breadth and incremental innovation performance. Secondly, the results also show a significant linear relationship between search depth and incremental innovation performance. However, in contrast to search breadth, the search depth does not show obvious signs of over-search problem. Thirdly, it is not only found that the exploration competence could exert positive moderating effect on the positive relationship between search breath and radical innovation performance, but also found that exploratory competence and network routines play a positive moderating role in the positive relationship between search depth and incremental innovation performance. Finally, the three-way interaction analysis results indicate that the interaction item of search depth, exploratory competence and network routines is positively correlated with the incremental innovation performance, while the interactive item of search breadth, exploration competence and network routines is, on the contrary, negatively correlated with the radical innovation performance. Our findings can help promote the efficiency of innovation network and guide the innovation practice of enterprises.

Key words: boundary-spanning search, innovation performance, ambidextrous competence, network routines, technological innovation network

Guan Jun, Xu Jianzhong, Lin Yan. Impacts of Boundary-spanning Search, Network Routines and Ambidextrous Competence on Innovation Performance[J]. , 2019, 31(12): 61-72.

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