The strength of long ties and the weakness of strong ties: Knowledge diffusion through supply chain networks

Todo, Yasuyuki; Matouš, Petr; Inoue, Hiroyasu

doi:10.1016/j.respol.2016.06.008

Cited by 94 publications

(81 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Theory suggests that the value of social capital varies across distinct conditions (Inkpen and Tsang, 2016), such as individual ties (Payne et al, 2011;Todo et al, 2016).…”

Section: Relationshipmentioning

confidence: 99%

Non-linear effects of relational capital on supply-side resilience

Fan

Stevenson

2019

IJOPM

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Purpose Prior studies have largely overlooked the potentially negative consequences of a buyer’s relational capital (RC) with a supplier for supply-side resilience, assuming a positive linear relationship between the constructs. Meanwhile, the focus of research has been at an organisational level without incorporating the role of boundary spanning individuals at the interface between buyer and supplier. Drawing on social capital and boundary spanning theory, the purpose of this paper is to: re-examine the relationship between RC and supply-side resilience, challenging the linear assumption; and investigate how both the strength and diversity of a boundary spanner’s ties moderate this relationship. Design/methodology/approach Survey data are collected from 248 firms and validated using a subset of 57 attentive secondary respondents and archival data. The latent moderated structural equation method is applied to analyse the data. Findings An inverted U-shaped relationship between RC and supply-side resilience is identified. Tie strength in particular has a positive moderating effect on the relationship. More specifically, the downward RC–supply-side resilience relationship flips into an upward curvilinear relationship when boundary spanning individuals develop stronger ties with supplier personnel. Research limitations/implications A deeper insight into the RC–supply-side resilience relationship is provided. Findings are based on Chinese manufacturing firms and cross-sectional data meaning further research is needed to determine their generalisability. Practical implications In evaluating how to enhance supply-side resilience, buying firms must decide whether the associated collaborative benefits of developing RC outweigh the potential costs. Managers also need to be concerned with the impact of developing RC between organisations and enhancing the tie strength of individuals simultaneously. Originality/value The paper goes beyond the linear relationship between RC and supply-side resilience. Incorporating the moderating role of boundary spanners identifies a novel phenomenon whereby the RC–resilience relationship flips from an inverted to a U-shaped curve.

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“…Theory suggests that the value of social capital varies across distinct conditions (Inkpen and Tsang, 2016), such as individual ties (Payne et al, 2011;Todo et al, 2016).…”

Section: Relationshipmentioning

confidence: 99%

Non-linear effects of relational capital on supply-side resilience

Fan

Stevenson

2019

IJOPM

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“…Within networks of alliances, entities reflect a closed organizational network of enterprises focusing on common tasks and collaborating with working partners. From the perspective of social networks, network ties among partners in an organizational network may have a positive influence on the diffusion of knowledge, technology, information, and other resources [45]. Burt (1992) [46] postulated that doers would have a leading edge in gaining diversified information if they linked with doers in other organizations.…”

Section: The Mediating Role Of Network Tiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of Boundary-Spanning Search, Network Ties, and Absorptive Capacity for Innovation: A Moderated Mediation Examination

et al. 2018

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Innovation is a key driver for organizations to survive and thrive in increasingly hyper-competitive markets. This study investigates the effects of boundary-spanning search on innovation capability. Specifically, it examines the mediating and moderating effects of network ties and absorptive capacity on boundary-spanning search and innovation in Chinese companies. We constructed a theoretical model of an organization’s boundary-spanning search and innovation capability and distributed a survey questionnaire to a sample of specific industries with upstream and downstream relations in Sichuan Province in China for their responses. Results from the study reveal that boundary-spanning search has a positive and significant impact on innovation capability as well as a positive moderating effect on absorptive capacity and innovation capability. This paper shows that enterprises need to continuously focus on exploring networking opportunities in direct and indirect ways to get access to effective flow and diffusion of resources, which in turn can enhance innovation capability.

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“…Future research could address these questions by analyzing samples based on plant level (Todo et al, 2015) or global sourcing (Jain et al, 2013) data. Although this was beyond the scope of our study, future research could also investigate the relative importance of tacit and codified knowledge transfers.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge Spillovers in the Supply Chain: Evidence from the High-Tech Sectors

Simeth

Seifert

2015

AMPROC

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In addition to internal R&D, external knowledge is widely considered as an essential lever for innovative performance. This paper analyzes knowledge spillovers in supply chain networks. Specifically, we investigate how supplier innovation is impacted by buyer innovation. Financial accounting data is combined with supply chain relationship data and patent data for U.S. firms in high tech industries. Our econometric analysis shows that buyer innovation has a positive and significant impact on supplier innovation. We find that the duration of the buyer-supplier relationship positively moderates this effect, but that the technological proximity between the two firms does not have a significant effect on spillovers.

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The strength of long ties and the weakness of strong ties: Knowledge diffusion through supply chain networks

Cited by 94 publications

References 51 publications

Non-linear effects of relational capital on supply-side resilience

Non-linear effects of relational capital on supply-side resilience

The Effects of Boundary-Spanning Search, Network Ties, and Absorptive Capacity for Innovation: A Moderated Mediation Examination

Knowledge Spillovers in the Supply Chain: Evidence from the High-Tech Sectors

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