scholarly journals SOCIAL CAPITAL AS KNOWLEDGE ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY AND FIRM INNOVATION

Business & IT ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol VIII (1) ◽  
pp. 13-25
Author(s):  
Ploychompoo Kittikunchotiwut
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Firm Innovation

Overcoming the Dark Side of Closed Networks in Cultural Tourism Clusters: The Importance of Diverse Networks

2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 239-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ángela Martínez-Pérez ◽  
Marie-Michele Beauchesne
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Cultural Tourism ◽  
Dark Side ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Firm Innovation ◽  
Closed Networks ◽  
The World ◽  
The Relationship

Despite the recognized importance of tourism as an engine of economic growth in developed countries, research on the antecedents of innovation in this sector has been sparse, especially in the context of tourism clusters. Scholars have suggested that social capital is a key determinant of firm innovation in the context of tourism clusters, but empirical evidence has been lacking. The aim of this article is to empirically study the interplay between social capital and innovation in the context of tourism clusters at firm level. More specifically, we analyzed the effects of closed networks and diverse networks on firm innovation using a sample of 215 hospitality and tourism firms located in the World Heritage Cities of Spain. Results showed an inverted-U-shaped relationship between closed networks and firm innovation. Consistent with existing literature, these findings suggest that whereas a certain degree of strength and density helps to promote innovation, a critical point may exist beyond which innovation stabilizes or deteriorates when the information of the network becomes too redundant. In addition, we found that diverse networks positively moderated the relationship between closed networks and firm innovation. In other words, structural holes appear to mitigate the negative effects arising from excess strength and density and encourage the development of innovations beyond what a firm relying solely on closed networks could achieve. In practice, these results suggest firms in tourism clusters should not exclusively focus on typical closed networks but also create connections with diverse agents to maximize their potential for innovation.

External knowledge sourcing and innovation in family firms

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manzoor Ul Akram ◽  
Koustab Ghosh ◽  
Rojers P. Joseph
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Product Innovation ◽  
Family Firms ◽  
Family Firm ◽  
Content Type ◽  
External Knowledge ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Realized Absorptive Capacity

Purpose This study aims to investigate the external knowledge search behaviors in terms of search breadth and search depth in family firms and the resultant product innovation in Indian context. The authors theorize the mediating role of absorptive capacity (potential and realized absorptive capacity) between knowledge sourcing from external sources and product innovation. Further, the authors examine the moderating role of crucial internal social capital of the family firm in enhancing the use of external knowledge for firm innovation activities. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a quantitative research design taking single informant for collection of data from 151 family small and medium enterprises in automotive sector in India. The authors use structural equation modeling to test hypothesized relationships. Findings The findings indicate that both search breadth and search depth of family firms are positively associated with product innovation in family firms. The authors also find evidence for partial mediating role of potential and realized absorptive capacity in the relationship between search breadth and innovation and search depth and innovation. The results show how family firms learning taking place while scanning external knowledge sources in terms of external absorptive capacity routines. Finally, the authors find that family firm internal social capital positively moderate the relationship between search breadth and depth, and product innovation. Practical implications Family firms need to innovate to remain relevant in the long-run and as such development of superior capabilities is of great significance to them. Family firm managers must be open to external knowledge as such knowledge help them improve the firm level of innovation through absorptive capacity. Further, family firms must realize and act upon the importance of their social capital for the integration and utilization of acquired knowledge. Originality/value This paper is amongst a few papers that take dynamic capability views of innovation in family firms wherein the authors theorize how external search breadth and depth lead to the development of potential and realized absorptive capacity in family firms. The importance of family firm internal social capital as a strong integrating and knowledge sharing mechanism that helps family firms transform external knowledge into innovation is also highlighted.

Social Networks: Effects of Social Capital on Firm Innovation

2010 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 258-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesc Xavier Molina-Morales ◽  
María Teresa Martínez-Fernández
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Firm Innovation

scholarly journals Antecedents and outcomes of breadth and depth of absorptive capacity: An empirical study

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 764-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Zou ◽  
Feng Guo ◽  
Jinyu Guo
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Empirical Study ◽  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Social Capital Theory ◽  
Capital Theory ◽  
Depth Of Knowledge ◽  
Absorptive Capacities ◽  
Social Capitals ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Knowledge Depth

AbstractAlthough previous studies have considered the antecedents and outcomes of absorptive capacity, much remains to be learned on this subject. Firms need to absorb breadth and depth of knowledge and form absorptive capacities that are contingent on various social capitals to improve innovation and performance. The purpose of this study is to explore the antecedents and outcomes of the breadth and depth of absorptive capacity from the perspective of social capital theory. Based on a sample of 218 Chinese firms, empirical results suggest that weak tie sources and knowledge breadth can enhance the breadth of absorptive capacity, and that strong tie sources and knowledge depth can strengthen the depth of absorptive capacity. The results also suggest that the breadth of absorptive capacity positively impacts the depth of absorptive capacity, and that both breadth and depth of absorptive capacity are positively related to innovation performance.

The role of organizational and social capital in the firm’s absorptive capacity

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 987-1006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amal Aribi ◽  
Olivier Dupouët
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Organizational Capital ◽  
Industrial Firms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Radical Innovations ◽  
The World ◽  
Expected Outcome ◽  
Do So

Purpose – This paper aims to ask the question of the contingency of a firm’s absorptive capacity upon the type of expected outcome. Thus, this paper looks at different expected outputs in terms of more or less radical innovations and sees if there are consequences on the absorptive process underpinning cognitive structures and processes, as embodied in its organizational and social capital. Design/methodology/approach – To do so, a qualitative study was conducted. In total, 23 persons in three French industrial firms were interviewed about their firm’s absorptive capacity. One of these firms aims at “new-to-the-firm” innovations, while the other two aim at “new-to-the-world” innovations. Findings – Results suggest that while “new-to-the-firm” innovations tend to favor the use of social capital, “new-to-the-world” innovations tend to rely more on organizational capital. These rather counterintuitive results are interpreted by the necessity to take into account other variables than knowledge distance in the absorption of new knowledge. In particular, complexity and time-length would call for greater use of organizational capital, while speed and reactivity would instead require greater use of social capital. Originality/value – This is to the best of the authors’ knowledge that one of the first study evidencing the contingent nature of the absorptive process. Further, results tend to show the form absorptive capacity takes depends not only on cognitive aspects but also on the particular environment the firm evolves in.

Social capital, internationalization and absorptive capacity: The electronics and ICT cluster of the Basque Country

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 707-733 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesus Valdaliso ◽  
Aitziber Elola ◽  
Marijose Aranguren ◽  
Santiago Lopez
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Basque Country ◽  
Ict Cluster
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