Abstract
This paper presents an empirical study on how knowledge management practices and innovation sources affect product innovation performance, among the 152 manufacturers in the low- and high- tech industries in China. The results indicate that external innovation sources are positively correlated with innovation activities and new product performance. Intellectual Property (IP) and knowledge management practices (KMP) are positively correlated with innovation activities, and KMP is positively correlated with innovation sources. The dual effect of KMP shows its indispensable effect on the new product development for both high-tech and low-tech firms, but for low-tech firms, such effect is relatively weak. This empirical study shows that IP management is critical to high-tech but not low-tech firms. We also found that, for innovation activities, low-tech depends on the external sources of innovation whilst high-tech firms do not.
Highlights
Sourcing and managing knowledge are critical for product innovation (Law, Lau, & Ip, 2019; Hernandez-Vivanco, Bernardo, & Cruz-Cázares, 2016)
This paper presents an empirical study on the exploration of how knowledge management practices (KMP), the sources of innovation, and the use of intellectual property protection affect product innovation performance in China, comparing them with low- and high- tech industries
Factors of Product Innovation Performance and Moderation Effects of KMP The results suggest that, by controlling the R&D staff ratio, company size and type of product, innovation sources, KMP and the use of Intellectual property (IP) are positively correlated with innovation activities, which are positively correlated with new product performance (NPP)
Summary
Sourcing and managing knowledge are critical for product innovation (Law, Lau, & Ip, 2019; Hernandez-Vivanco, Bernardo, & Cruz-Cázares, 2016). Knowledge for innovation in both tacit or explicit forms can come from different sources through internal and external innovation activities, such as up-to-date publications, databases or information from business partners (Cassiman & Veugelers, 2006). Innovation relevant studies have focused on the economic outcomes, innovation actors, the quantitative measurement of innovation performance, and the effectiveness of funded initiatives (Yam, William, Tang, & Lau, 2011)
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