Measuring the impact of relational capital on customer performance in the SME B2B sector

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 1144-1166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Agostini ◽  
Anna Nosella ◽  
Benedetta Soranzo
Keyword(s):  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Open Innovation ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Relational Capital ◽  
Marketing Capability ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Innovation Practices ◽  
External Actors ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence that different components of relational capital (marketing capability, open innovation with business and scientific partners, technological reputation, brand) have on customer performance (CP). Moreover, the moderating effect of absorptive capacity on such relationships is tested. Design/methodology/approach First, the direct relationship between the different components of relational capital and CP is analyzed through a linear regression model. Then, to test the moderating effect, two distinct regression analyses are conducted into two sub-samples, defined according to the level of absorptive capacity. The authors carried out these analyses on a sample of 150 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the medium- and high-tech B2B context. Findings Results of this study prove that CP is enhanced through firm marketing capability, open innovation with business partners and technological reputation, while brand and open innovation with scientific partner do not have an association with CP. In particular, the impact of marketing capability and open innovation with business actors on CP is greater for firms with higher absorptive capacity. Research limitations/implications This paper, highlighting the relevance of relational capital and absorptive capacity in improving CP, enhances our knowledge about the factors that help to strengthen the relationships with customers, which is an under-investigated issue especially for SMEs competing in B2B industries, and extends our knowledge on open innovation practices. Practical implications Findings of this paper suggest that, to achieve better CP, managers should pay special attention to nurturing their marketing capability and high-quality relationships with external actors and invest in absorptive capacity to enhance the positive effect of such linkages. Originality/value This work, combining the external perspective of relational capital and the internal organizational dimension of absorptive capacity, provides valuable insights about the knowledge and resource mix that firms might rely on to achieve better customer satisfaction and loyalty.

scholarly journals Antecedents and effects of individual absorptive capacity: a micro-foundational perspective on open innovation

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1319-1341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandor Lowik ◽  
Jeroen Kraaijenbrink ◽  
Aard J. Groen
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Cognitive Style ◽  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Open Innovation ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
External Knowledge ◽  
Absorptive Capacities ◽  
Innovation Practices

Purpose The paper aims to understand how individuals differ in individual absorptive capacity – their ability to recognize, assimilate, transform and exploit external knowledge. These individual absorptive capacities are a key knowledge management building block for an organization’s open innovation practices. The study examines individual antecedents – human capital, social capital and cognition – and innovation outcomes of individual absorptive capacity. Design/methodology/approach This is a quantitative study of 147 employees in a single medium-sized Dutch industrial firm. Based on a survey and structural equation modeling, the antecedents’ prior knowledge diversity, network diversity and cognitive style are examined in relation to individual absorptive capacity. Further, the mediating effects of individual absorptive capacity on its antecedents and innovation outcome are investigated. Findings The main findings are that prior knowledge diversity, external network diversity and a bisociative cognitive style explain differences in individual absorptive capacity. A bisociative cognitive style appears to be the most important factor. Also, this study finds that individual absorptive capacity mediates between its antecedents and individual innovation performance and is therefore a relevant factor to capture value from external knowledge sources. Research limitations/implications The study extends open innovation theory by exploring individual-level factors that explain the ability to capture value from external knowledge. It suggests that differences in open innovation practices are explained by heterogeneity at the individual level. Further, it explains how individuals’ potentials for open innovation are mediated by their absorptive capacities. These insights enable future researchers to further examine individual-level factors in knowledge management practices and to explore cross-level individual-organizational interactions for open innovation. Practical implications This paper highlights that individuals’ engagements in open innovation practices are explained not only by individuals’ motivations but also by their abilities to absorb external knowledge. Further, it helps managers to design knowledge management practices to promote employees’ absorptive capacities, to improve open innovation processes. Originality/value This study investigates the neglected individual-level factors of open innovation practices from a micro-foundational and knowledge management perspective. To our best knowledge, this is the first study to examine individual-level antecedents and outcomes of individual absorptive capacity.

The impact of intellectual capital on SMEs’ performance in China

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 488-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Xu ◽  
Jingsuo Li
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Manufacturing Sector ◽  
Operating Efficiency ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Relational Capital ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Structural Capital ◽  
Capital Efficiency ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore and compare the extent of intellectual capital (IC) and its four components in high-tech and non-high-tech small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in China’s manufacturing sector, and to examine the relationship between IC and the performance of high-tech and non-high-tech SMEs. Design/methodology/approach The study uses the data of 116 high-tech SMEs and 380 non-high-tech SMEs listed on the Shenzhen stock exchanges during 2012–2016. The modified value added intellectual coefficient (MVAIC) model is used incorporating four components, namely, capital employed, human capital, structural capital and relational capital. Finally, multiple regression analysis is utilized to test the proposed research hypotheses. Findings The findings of this paper reveal that there is significant difference in MVAIC between high-tech and non-high-tech SMEs. The results further indicate a positive relationship between IC and financial performance of high-tech and non-high-tech SMEs. Specifically, IC is positively associated with firms’ earnings, profitability and operating efficiency. Additionally, capital employed efficiency, human capital efficiency and structural capital efficiency are found to be the most influential value drivers for the performance of two types of SMEs while relational capital efficiency possesses less importance. Practical implications This paper will provide a valuable framework for executives, managers and policy makers in managing IC within the Chinese context. Originality/value To the best knowledge of the authors, this is the first empirical study that has been conducted on high-tech and non-high-tech SMEs in the manufacturing sector in China.

The impact of chief executive officer turnover on strategic change: a model of mediating effect and joint moderating effect

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Renhuai Liu ◽  
Chao Li ◽  
Mengjun Huo
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Strategic Change ◽  
Ceo Turnover ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Organizational Slack ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Industry Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to empirically analyze the impact of chief executive officer (CEO) turnover on strategic change and explore the mediating role of organizational slack between them, as well as the moderating role and joint moderating role of top management team (TMT) external social network, ownership nature and industry type.Design/methodology/approachBased on the upper echelons theory, resource allocation theory and structuration theory, this paper takes the unbalanced panel data of A-share listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges of China from 2001 to 2018 as the research sample, uses ordinary least squares (OLS) regression method and fixed effect model to study the relationship between CEO turnover and strategic change, and focuses on the mediating mechanism and moderating mechanism between them.FindingsThe authors find that CEO turnover is positively related to strategic change. When a CEO turns over, a new CEO will initiate strategic change. Precipitation organizational slack plays a mediating role between CEO turnover and strategic change. Non-precipitation organizational slack has no mediating effect between CEO turnover and strategic change, which is embodied as “suppressing effects.” When the non-precipitation organizational slack variable is controlled, the impact of CEO turnover on strategic change will be enhanced. TMT external social network, ownership nature and industry type all negatively moderate the relationship between CEO turnover and strategic change. TMT external social network and ownership nature have a joint moderating effect between CEO turnover and strategic change. When TMT external social network is small, CEO turnover has a positive effect on strategic change in both state-owned enterprises and non-state-owned enterprises, but the promotion effect is stronger in non-state-owned enterprises. When TMT external social network is large, the positive effect of CEO turnover on strategic change in state-owned enterprises is from strong to weak, but in the non-state-owned enterprises is from weak to strong. TMT external social network and industry type have a joint moderating effect between CEO turnover and strategic change. When TMT external social network is small, CEO turnover has a positive impact on strategic change in high-tech enterprises and non-high-tech enterprises, but the promotion effect is stronger in non-high-tech enterprises. When TMT external social network is large, the positive impact of CEO turnover on strategic change in high-tech enterprises is from strong to weak, but in the non-high-tech enterprises is from weak to strong.Originality/valueOn the basis of previous studies, this paper further expands the research scope of the mechanism of CEO turnover on strategic change, echoing the research arguments of relevant scholars. At the same time, the research results reveal the mechanism of organizational slack, TMT external social network, ownership nature and industry type in the relationship between CEO turnover and strategic change, and further deepen the application of upper echelons theory, resources allocation theory and structuration theory in China. In addition, the research conclusions of this paper also provide reference value for Chinese enterprises in carrying out strategic change, promoting enterprise transformation and improving the level of corporate governance, and help to enhance the understanding and attention of Chinese enterprises to CEO turnover, organizational slack, TMT external social network, strategic change and corporate governance under the background of high-quality economic development.

Do managerial ties support or stifle open innovation?

2014 ◽  
Vol 114 (4) ◽  
pp. 652-675 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Muzamil Naqshbandi ◽  
Sharan Kaur
Keyword(s):  
Open Innovation ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
High Tech Industry ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Managerial Ties ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – Research investigating the role of factors affecting open innovation remains scarce. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of managerial ties in facilitating the two types of open innovation – in-bound and out-bound. Design/methodology/approach – Data are collected using the questionnaire survey method from 339 middle and top managers working in four high-tech industries in Malaysia. Findings – Results show that in most high-tech industries in Malaysia, managerial ties with universities and with government officials facilitate in-bound open innovation, while ties with managers at other firms do not significantly relate to it in any high-tech industry. Further, managerial ties are not found to relate significantly to out-bound open innovation in any high-tech industry except in the aerospace and electronics industries wherein ties with government officials relate negatively and positively to out-bound innovation, respectively. Practical implications – This study provides empirical evidence about the managerial ties practitioners should and should not forge to succeed in the open innovation paradigm. Originality/value – This study is probably the only study so far that gauges the impact of managerial ties on open innovation. The results of this study fill a major gap in the current open innovation theory besides providing insights for practitioners.

When it comes to the impact of absorptive capacity on co-innovation, how really harmful is knowledge leakage?

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 1841-1857
Author(s):  
José Arias-Pérez ◽  
Nelson Lozada ◽  
Edwin Henao-García
Keyword(s):  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Least Squares Method ◽  
Traditional Approach ◽  
Collaborative Work ◽  
Structural Equations ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Surprising Result ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Knowledge Leakage ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to analyze the moderating effect of knowledge leakage on the relationship between absorptive capacity and co-innovation, which implies collaborative work and knowledge exchange with external actors on virtual innovation platforms. Design/methodology/approach The research model was tested in a sample of companies through the use of structural equations by the partial least squares method. Findings The results confirm that absorptive capacity is a prior condition for co-innovation. However, the most interesting and surprising result has to do with knowledge leakage, which actually has a negative moderating effect, but whose size is modest, which dismisses the great damages that such leakage could generate. Originality/value This study is pioneering in analyzing knowledge leakage in the context of virtual innovation platforms, which occurs in a different manner as compared to leakage in the context of collaborative research and development, widely analyzed in the literature. However, the main contribution of the paper lies in the fact that the results evidence the existence of an intermediate position between the traditional approach that insists on demonstrating the devastating consequences of the leakage and the emerging approach that dismisses these negative repercussions and conceives leakage as a positive organizational phenomenon, natural and inherent to the interaction of the firm with the environment. The results also contradict recent empirical evidence that completely dismisses the negative repercussions of knowledge leakage in contexts where incremental innovations prevail.

Social capital and organizational ambidexterity: the moderating effect of absorptive capacity

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Younggeun Lee ◽  
Andres Felipe Cortes ◽  
Yiming Zhuang ◽  
Pol Herrmann
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Emerging Economies ◽  
Organizational Ambidexterity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
External Actors ◽  
Different Cultures ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of social capital on organizational ambidexterity in the context of emerging economies. Moreover, this paper aims to study the moderating influence of absorptive capacity on the relationship between social capital and organizational ambidexterity.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted two studies using survey data collected from 97 Ecuadorian and 100 Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).FindingsThe authors found that social capital, the extent to which organizational members interact, collaborate and share knowledge with one another and with external actors, has a positive effect on the simultaneous implementation of exploratory and exploitative innovations (i.e. organizational ambidexterity). Moreover, the authors found that absorptive capacity positively strengthens the impact of social capital on organizational ambidexterity.Originality/valueDrawing on the knowledge-based view and the innovation literature, the authors theoretically argue the importance of social capital and absorptive capacity for SMEs to develop and manage exploratory and exploitative innovations simultaneously in emerging economies of different cultures. The authors empirically test proposed hypotheses in Ecuador and China, two emerging markets with important cultural differences, and show the relevance of social capital in multiple settings.

Open innovation search in manufacturing firms: the role of organizational slack and absorptive capacity

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 656-674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yueqi Wang ◽  
Bin Guo ◽  
Yanjie Yin
Keyword(s):  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Open Innovation ◽  
Search Strategy ◽  
Organizational Factors ◽  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Organizational Slack ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Absorbed Slack

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore organizational factors that act as antecedents of open innovation search. The authors aim to empirically examine whether the extent to which the organizational slack is absorbed determines its influence on firms’ openness in innovation search. In addition, the authors also examine the moderating effect of absorptive capacity on the relationship between slack and open innovation search. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted secondary data from multiple sources (NBER, Compustat and US census) and then constructed a ten-year balanced panel dataset of 298 manufacturers. The generalized least square method was used to explore the determinants of open innovation search among manufacturing firms. Findings The results of this study reveal that the absorption level of organizational slack indeed determines the openness in innovation search. Specifically, absorbed slack negatively affects a firm’s openness in innovation search, whereas unabsorbed slack promotes open innovation search. Additionally, the relationship between absorbed slack and open innovation search will be less negative with the increase of absorptive capacity. Originality/value Different from most previous studies that have examined the performance effect of open search among high-tech and large enterprises, this study focuses on the antecedents of open search strategy in both high- and low-tech, large and small firms. The findings reveal that different forms of organizational slack divergently influence a firm’s open search strategy, contributing to the understanding of the relationship between organizational slack and knowledge search behavior in a broader context, as well as the understanding of the moderating effect of absorptive capacity.

Inbound open innovation and radical innovation capability

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 581-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoxiao Shi ◽  
Qingpu Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Open Innovation ◽  
Smart Phone ◽  
Radical Innovation ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Innovation Capability ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Organizational Inertia ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of inbound open innovation and organizational inertia on radical innovation capability (RIC). It also seeks to explore whether the existence of organizational inertia has a moderating effect and influence on the relationship between inbound open innovation and RIC. Design/methodology/approach In this empirical research, the authors collected sample of patents in smart phone industry over the 2000-2016 period. Then, the authors examined the direct roles of inbound open innovation and organizational inertia, and the moderating role of organizational inertia by using hierarchical regression analysis. Findings Results found that cognitive inertia (CI) has a positive influence on firms’ RIC, but network inertia (NI) has a negative influence on RIC. CI also has a significant moderating effect on the relationship between inbound open innovation and RIC, but NI only has a significant moderating effect on the relationship between open search breadth and RIC. Inbound open innovation directly affects RIC. Research limitations/implications The authors collected the patent data of this study within the single industry and excluded other types of industries. And it may limit the generalization of the findings. Practical implications The paper includes implications for adopting an appropriate open search strategy and developing a better understanding of organizational inertia on firms’ radical innovation behavior. The findings suggest future directions to technology intensive industries for improving their RIC. Originality/value This study contributes to the relationship between organizational inertia and RIC within the framework of inbound open innovation.

Open innovation and intellectual property: a knowledge-based approach

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 1182-1208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonello Cammarano ◽  
Mauro Caputo ◽  
Emilia Lamberti ◽  
Francesca Michelino
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Open Innovation ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Current Debate ◽  
Patent Data ◽  
Property A ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Innovation Output ◽  
Innovation Practices ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a patent-based framework for investigating the effect of previous and current open innovation (OI) adoption on firms’ knowledge management strategies and type of innovation output. Design/methodology/approach Patent data are employed for gauging innovation practices, exploitation vs exploration strategies, specialization vs diversification choices and type of innovation. The study is performed on a sample of 1,280 patents granted to 66 top R&D spending bio-pharmaceutical companies. The year of analysis is 2010. Findings The previous recourse to specific innovation practices influences the current practice selection. R&D collaboration, outsourcing and mergers and acquisitions are employed to pursue exploration. Past purchase of patents increases the likelihood to achieve architectural and radical innovation in current activities. Research limitations/implications The work recommends the use of patent data to gauge many key elements for knowledge and innovation management. Results exhort scholars to investigate innovation practices at the knowledge domain level in order to detect specific behaviors. Practical implications The study provides a methodology for supporting decision-makers in assessing firms’ OI adoption, also performing the benchmark with competitors and R&D partners. Given the high computational effort required for applying the methodology, the authors are planning to give access to the software specifically developed for this study. Originality/value The work contributes to the current debate considering the effect of a combination of innovation practices on knowledge management strategies and type of innovation output, with a particular focus on OI activities. Moreover, the separation between the impact of previous and current innovation practices provides useful insights.

Willingness to pay for innovations

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 568-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Orsolya Sadik-Rozsnyai
Keyword(s):  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
National Culture ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Technological Innovations ◽  
Consumer Innovativeness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Consumer Value ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Principal Method

Purpose Whereas the impact of national culture on consumer innovativeness is widely discussed in the innovation literature, studies are scarce on consumer value and the related consumer willingness to pay (WTP) for innovations. Yet, innovative high-tech companies compete by enhancing their products with new attributes, and assessing consumer WTP for these innovative attributes in different countries is crucial to adapting the launching price and optimizing profits during the critical launch stage. To fill this gap, the purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of national culture and globalization on consumer value and the related WTP for technological innovations. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected in two culturally distinct but economically similar countries (France and Germany), using large representative and comparable consumer samples (n=642). Choice-based conjoint analysis was used as the principal method of data analysis. Findings This study reveals the significant impact of national culture on consumer value and the related WTP for technological innovations and the moderating effect of household income on this relationship. Originality/value This study is the first to reveal and provide strong empirical evidence of the impact of national culture on WTP for innovations. In addition, this study is the first to reveal the moderating effect of income on this relationship and to highlight an emerging European innovation adoption behavior.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document