The Relationship Between Network Capabilities and Innovation Performance : Evidence from Chinese High-Tech Industry

Abstract

Firms situated within innovation networks require specific abilities to acquire, from their network partners, the knowledge and the complementary assets that facilitate their innovation performance. Drawing on the resource-based view and social network theory, this study identifies two types of network capabilities: network structural capability and network relational capability. The purpose of this study is to deepen our understanding of the precise manner in which these network capabilities affect the networked firm's innovation performance. Based on the data obtained from Chinese high-tech firms, this study's findings suggest that network structural capability has a greater positive impact on innovation performance than network relational capability does within an exploration-orientated network. However, network relational capability is more positively associated with innovation performance within an exploitation-orientated network.

Feature and Tendency of Technology Transfer in Z-Park Patent Cooperation Network: From the Perspective of Global Optimal Path

“…Hua and Wang (2015) studied the effect of network structure on innovation efficiency by establishing the simulation model of the innovation process under the environment of innovation networks. Based on the data of High-tech enterprises in China, Fang et al (2019) studied the effect of two types of network capability, namely network structure capability and network relationship capability on the innovation performance by multiple hierarchical regression method.…”

The role of Networking Capabilities During the Covid-19 Crisis: Lessons Learned From SMEs in an Emerging Market

“…Although the literature has widely addressed the role of NC's (Fang et al, 2019;McGrath et al, 2019;Mitrega et al, 2012;Mitrega et al, 2017), there is scarce evidence about the role these capabilities play for firms during economic crises. Pananond (2007) is an example of changing dynamics of Thai multinationals after the Asian economic crisis, exploring technological capabilities and networking capabilities.…”

“…The importance of collaboration to firms is not a new topic. The literature has plenty of studies showing how firms collaborate with clients, suppliers, competitors, and stakeholders through partnerships, alliances, and networks to access resources and generate relational rents (Dyer & Singh, 1998;Dyer et al, 2018;Fang et al, 2019;Segato & Raab, 2019;Torkkeli et al, 2019). More recently, growing attention has been paid to the dynamic aspects of business networking capabilities, namely networking capabilities or NC's (Mitrega et al, 2012).…”