When Is the Structural Hole Conducive to Firms' Innovation?—A Comparative Study of Coopetition Network and Non-coopetition Network

Abstract

Abstract: Based on social network theory, competitive theory and industrial technology life cycle model, this paper constructs a research framework to test the impact of the location of structural holes in coopetitive network and non-coopetitive network on innovation performance under different industrial technology life cycles. The results show that when the development of industrial technology is in the growth stage, the enterprise innovation is promoted by the structural hole position in both the coopetitive network and the non-coopetitive network. When the development of industrial technology enters the mature stage, the position of the structural hole in the coopetitive network has no effect on the innovation of enterprises, but it can promote enterprises with high knowledge stock. The position of the hole in the non-coopetitive network inhibits the innovation of enterprises. Based on the above findings, enterprises need to take corresponding countermeasures according to the different stages of the industrial technology life cycle to optimize the coopetitive network and non-coopetitive network structure, so as to improve their technological innovation ability.

Key words: coopetitive network, non-coopetitive network, structural hole, innovation performance, industrial technology life cycle

Zhang Na, Xu Min, Bi Yanran, Gao Wenyue, Xu Lili. When Is the Structural Hole Conducive to Firms' Innovation?—A Comparative Study of Coopetition Network and Non-coopetition Network[J]. Management Review, 2025, 37(4): 128-141.

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