Relational mechanisms, market contracts and cross‐enterprise knowledge trading in the supply chain

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to study the effects of relational mechanisms and market contracts on cross-enterprise knowledge trading in supply chain and to examine the role of market contracts. Relational mechanism is categorized into indirect and direct relational mechanism in this paper. Cross-enterprise knowledge trading is categorized into explicit and tacit knowledge trading. The indirect relational mechanism is mainly expressed by knowledge brokers, while the direct relational mechanism consists of shared goals and trust. Design/methodology/approach -Multiple regression analysis was performed on questionnaire data from 256 Chinese manufacturing enterprises in supply chain in order to assess the relationships between relational mechanisms, market contracts and cross-enterprise knowledge trading. Findings -The results show that knowledge brokers and market contracts have significant and positive effects on explicit knowledge trading, but the effects on tacit knowledge trading are not significant. Shared goals and trust have significant and positive effects not only on explicit knowledge trading but also on tacit knowledge trading, while trust has a stronger positive effect on tacit knowledge trading than explicit knowledge trading. Finally, the moderating effects of market contracts are proven in the relationships between relational mechanisms and knowledge trading, excluding the relationship between knowledge brokers and tacit knowledge trading. Originality/value -Previous studies about the cross-enterprise knowledge trading in supply chain focused on theoretical research which did not match with reality, especially in China, where the relational mechanism in trading activities is strong. Based on relational exchange theory and transaction cost theory, a conceptual model for the effects of relational mechanisms and market contracts on cross-enterprise knowledge trading in supply chain is proposed in this paper, and then empirically tested using the data collected from 256 Chinese manufacturing enterprises in supply chain with multiple regression models. The findings provide a theoretical basis for knowledge trading participants selecting an appropriate governance mechanism to promote knowledge trading, and these also guide the knowledge trading among members of supply chain in practice.

Improving reverse supply chain performance: The role of supply chain leadership and governance mechanisms

“…The ability of a buying firm to foster suppliers' trust on them will enhance suppliers' initiatives towards RSC practices as they will feel confident and secure to work together with the buying firms in achieving such missions. At the same time, suppliers are willing to share information and knowledge, collaborate, and even involve themselves in designing RSC practices and activities that can be used throughout supply networks (Inkpen and Tsang, 2005;Zhang et al, 2012).…”

22 Years of Governance Structures and Performance: What Has Been Achieved in Agrifood Chains and Beyond? A Review

“…More than 10% of the empirical and conceptual studies synthesized identified the key assumptions of RBV as resources are valuable, inherently complex, and difficult to replicate [190]. Therefore, the strategic resources and knowledge of a firm come not only from within the organizational boundaries but also from outside partners [13,130,132,143].…”

External Social Capital, Inter-Organizational Knowledge Trading and Enterprise Innovation Performance in Supply Chain: Evidence from Manufacturing Enterprises in China

“…Based on the study of Davenport and Prusak (1998), many studies further studied the knowledge market and/or knowledge trading in intra-organizational structures. Similar to the intra-enterprise knowledge market that Davenport and Prusak (1998) proposed, the knowledge flow and sharing in supply chain are also preceded with market-driven forces to a great extent (Zhang et al, 2012). Therefore, the market mechanism can be introduced to the process of knowledge sharing or knowledge transfer in supply chain.…”

“…Previous studies of China regarding the inter-organizational knowledge trading in supply chain focused on theoretical research, such as the influencing factors of knowledge market in supply chain and the theoretical research of knowledge trading modes (Zhang et al, 2006;Xu et al, 2008;Zhao et al, 2014). Then, considering that inter-organizational knowledge trading and cooperative innovation activities have certain social background and organizational context, scholars gradually introduced variables related to organizational context and empirically studied their influence on supply chain inter-organizational knowledge trading and enterprise performance, such as research on influence of characteristics of supply chain partners (Chen & Zhang, 2013), partnerships (including variables such as trust, relationship commitment and relationship quality) (Chen et al, 2012;Cheng & Fu, 2013;Chen et al, 2016), cooperative mechanisms (market mechanisms and relationship mechanisms) (Zhang et al, 2012;Liu & Chen, 2015) on inter-organizational knowledge trading and enterprise performance (cooperative performance, innovation performance, etc.). However, in view of the members needing to connect with external suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers and other external social networks in inter-organizational knowledge trading and cooperative innovation, according to the theory of social capital, external social capital of members in supply chain will inevitably affect the organizational context of operation (Hung et al, 2014), and therefore will affect the inter-organizational knowledge trading and cooperative innovation performance in supply chain.…”