Network Embeddedness and Company Competitiveness

Abstract

ABSTRACT The purpose of the paper is to create a research model which analyses the impact of companies’ network embeddedness on their competitiveness through the lenses of knowledge cooperation in the network, competitor orientation and knowledge-oriented leadership. The data was collected using telephone interviews with 283 managers at medium-high technology companies. The findings revealed two relatively strong path connections between network embeddedness and competitiveness: one through knowledge cooperation in the network and competitor orientation and the other through knowledge-oriented leadership. In revealing the interconnections between network embeddedness and competitiveness, this paper argues for an indirect influence of the former on the latter.