Research on the Relationship among Knowledge Embeddedness, Knowledge Flow and Structural Upgrading in Strategic Alliance

Abstract

Abstract:

Knowledge embeddedness is an important path in the era of knowledge economy for strategic alliances to share limited resource and promote the industrial structural updating. In order to open the black box of the relation between knowledge embeddedness and alliance structural upgrading of strategic alliance, based on relevant theories such as knowledge management, strategic innovation and complex net-works, this paper distinguishes dimensions of knowledge embeddedness, and sets dimensions in knowledge embeddedness as the prior varia-bles of structural upgrading of strategic alliance, takes knowledge flow as the mediated variable, and establishes a conceptual model of knowledge embeddedness, knowledge flow and structural upgrading of knowledge alliance. Using Structural Equation Model, this paper in-vestigates into strategic alliance in Yangtze Delta region, then uses 295 questionnaires to complete the empirical test. Results of the research show that, based on the constructing facets of knowledge embeddedness, knowledge complementarity, knowledge compatibility, knowledge closeness and knowledge coordination have significantly positive impact on structural upgrading of strategic alliance; knowledge flow has a partly mediating effect in the relationship among structural upgrading of strategic alliance and knowledge complementarity, knowledge com-patibility, knowledge closeness and knowledge coordination. This study explains the relationship among knowledge embeddedness, knowl-edge flow and structural upgrading of strategic alliance, interpreting the influencing mechanisms of knowledge embeddedness on structural upgrading of strategic alliance, thus providing beneficial references to managerial practices of strategic alliance.

Key words: knowledge embeddedness, knowledge flow, strategic alliance, structural upgrading, mediated variable

Zhao Jianyu, Fu Cheng, Xi Xi. Research on the Relationship among Knowledge Embeddedness, Knowledge Flow and Structural Upgrading in Strategic Alliance[J]. , 2020, 32(1): 91-106.

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