Inter-firm Knowledge Transfer Research Articles

Knowledge Management: The Value of Inter and Intra-firm Activities Towards Innovation Performance

Firms mainly depend on innovation to remain competitive in business. New knowledge is a major resource for firms on the path of achieving innovation performance. This paper seeks to examine how intra-firm and inter-firm activities promote knowledge sharing toward innovation performance. We used the variables channels of information to represent inter-firm activities and workplace organization methods to represent intra-firm knowledge-sharing activities. The proxies for innovation performance were product innovation and business process innovation. Cross-sectional country-level data from CIS 2018 for 17 countries within the EU region was used for our study. The OLS regression method was used for the analysis. While existing studies concentrate on inter-firm knowledge transfer and single country-level studies, our study focuses on a blend of intra-firm and intra-firm cross-country studies. We also emphasized the value of knowledge sharing and cognition in the knowledge transfer process toward achieving firm innovation performance. Our model was built on the knowledge-based view (KBV) and social network theory (SNT). We found that cross-functional workgroups, conferences, trade fairs and exhibitions have a positive significant impact on both product and business process innovation. Published patent had a significant impact on product innovation but was not statistically significant for business process innovation. In conclusion, we found that intra-firm knowledge-sharing activities impact more on innovation performance of firms more than inter-firm knowledge-sharing activities of firms in the EU. Our study is limited to using cross-sectional data and the number of countries within the EU involved in the study. We believe longitudinal data and the involvement of more EU countries in future studies will yield robust findings for more reliable inferences.

Inter-firm knowledge transfer in R&D project networks: A multiple case study

Inter-organizational knowledge transfer is widely considered to be an important source of competitiveness in the extant literature and by innovation policymakers. This paper reports on a study that investigated inter-firm knowledge transfer in research and development (R&D) projects that received public funding. All projects took place in Finland and included university and/or research institute member(s). Based on multiple case studies, the significance of social capital in knowledge transfer was analyzed. Aspects that limited the knowledge transfer were identified and the effects of motivation on collaboration were evaluated. In certain cases, the knowledge transfer between firms was minimal and existed only in formal meetings. Surprisingly, the firms shared their R&D results openly with other network members, but this was not considered particularly beneficial.The knowledge transfer was limited by changes in consortiums, changes in project duration and/or budget, differences in R&D interests, insufficient resources, and ability to achieve R&D goal(s) without collaboration. In cases with active collaboration, several features of social capital in combination with complimentary business goals were perceived as facilitators of knowledge transfer. Based on the results, practical implications for innovation policymakers and project coordinators, and directions for future research, are proposed.

Interfirm knowledge transfer in joint patenting: a technological distance analysis

In today’s highly competitive business environment, firms can ill afford the consequences of overlooking opportunities for innovation. An organization seeking to increase its existing knowledge base, in most cases, aims to identify and pursue useful knowledge available outside its borders. However, for companies interested in engaging in collaborative arrangements for innovations, systematic approaches for knowledge transfer may become a major challenge. In our research we focus on the diffusion of innovative knowledge that occurs during a joint knowledge development process. We present an empirical study spanning the period 2004 to 2018 which aims to explore the impact inter-organizational collaboration in the form of joint patenting has on the distance between partners’ technological bases. In addition, this paper looks into the change in technological distance when joint patenting occurs between different-country and same-country partners. The empirical results of the study suggest that engagement in joint patenting positively influences the technological proximity between partners and indicates a transmission and utilization of knowledge outside of firms’ existing knowledge base. Our findings contribute to knowledge related to innovation under inter?organizational collaboration and provides a basis for further theory development and testing.

Cast apart by the elites: how status influences assortative matching in industrial clusters

ABSTRACT In this article we investigate how status considerations influence inter-firm knowledge transfer in industrial clusters. Using evidence of a highly dynamic wine cluster and network analysis methods of Stochastic Actor-Oriented Modelling, we find that status considerations drive assortative matching in the formation of ties within a cluster. This means that low-status firms are cast from the ‘circles that count’, while high-status firms are likely to interact with similar others. Far from being an equal space of knowledge sharing, some clusters may instead be spaces of social hierarchies and elitist ties.

How Do Hybrid Organizations Learn from Collaboration? Knowledge Transfer in Social Enterprises

Research on social enterprises is becoming popular in both practice and academia; it is referred to as a hybrid research context that integrates social and business missions, and develop different strategic alliances, product development, and knowledge management in a business context. In terms of the lack of knowledge research in the hybrid context, this study explores how social enterprises learn from cross-sectoral social partnership, using a knowledge-based view. By investigating 14 social enterprises in Taiwan, we adopt qualitative research with a grounded theory approach to identity the knowledge types (including business and social) transferred through such partnership. A theoretical framework is proposed to show how the different types of knowledge are transferred through such partnership. Furthermore, we reveal the specific features of social enterprises that facilitate/restrict both intrafirm and interfirm knowledge transfer. Our contributions lie in the connection of knowledge studies to the hybrid context, the disclosure of the differences in knowledge transfer in the business/social sectors and the generation of in-depth insights into how knowledge can be managed under the dual mission in hybrid organizations.

Redesigning the model of the initiation and evolution of inter-firm knowledge transfer in R&D relationships

PurposeStarting from the model of the initiation and evolution of inter-firm knowledge transfer in R&D relationships developed by Faems et al. (2007), the purpose of this paper is to refine and improve this model, assessing its reliability in a different and wider context and extending it according to the outcomes.Design/methodology/approachA multiple case-study approach was implemented, examining 34 dyadic inter-firm R&D relationships. This methodology suited the research goal of exploring the validity of a model in an area where little data or theory exists.FindingsThe theoretical model proposed by Faemset al.(2007) was improved, confirming the adequacy of the overall structure of their intuition and highlighting several differences in terms of factors that lead to the dissolution of R&D relationships. These differences mainly refer to partners’ similarities before starting R&D relationships, co-opetition situations, knowledge leakage/opportunistic behavior and reputation issues.Originality/valueThis work is the first to investigate two open research gaps related to the model of the initiation and evolution of inter-firm knowledge transfer in R&D relationships: the need for additional case studies in other contexts to develop a more general theory and the lack of research incorporating issues such as relational capital between partners, governance form and alliance scope in an integrated analysis.

Knowledge Transfer in Strategic Networks: A Systematic Review and Theoretical Propositions

The research is financed by Soft Science Research Project in Shanxi Province of China, No. 2018041041-2 Abstract Knowledge has been recognized the one of the most important resources to obtain competitive advantages for firms. The inter-firm knowledge transfer is considered as the effective way to obtain knowledge. This study firstly provides a comprehensive review of relevant literatures in terms of knowledge transfer and strategic networks. Moreover, this study develops the theoretical propositions regarding the relationship between learning motivation, learning capability and knowledge transfer in strategic networks. Keywords: Knowledge transfer, strategic network, learning motivation, learning capability DOI : 10.7176/EJBM/11-21-15 Publication date :July 31 st 2019

Knowledge transfer in collaborations between foreign and indigenous firms in the Nigerian oil industry: The role of partners' motivational characteristics

Previous empirical studies on determinants of interfirm knowledge transfer have been largely focused on knowledge transfer between symmetrical partners, where there are relatively similar levels of knowledge sophistication and complementary knowledge‐transfer motives. Determinants of knowledge transfer between partners in asymmetric “market‐exploitation” alliances, where there are large differences in capabilities, and in motives, of the collaborating partners, have been understudied. This article presents a qualitative case study‐research of knowledge transfer in such collaborations in the Nigerian oil industry. Four cases of interfirm collaborative arrangements between foreign and local indigenous firms in the industry were studied and analyzed. Based on the results of the case study research, this article highlights the dominant role of partners' motivational characteristics, as against, their cognitive characteristics in the knowledge‐transfer process of asymmetric market‐exploitation alliances. It develops a set of theoretical propositions to expand the understanding of the key determinants of learning and knowledge transfer.

Who Works at the Interface in Knowledge Spillover Across Organizational Boundaries?

To investigate the characteristics of engineers who act as an interface in transferring knowledge across national boundaries, I conducted an empirical analysis regarding the mobility of engineers in electrical manufacturing firms from Japan to South Korea. Statistical findings from negative binomial regressions show that the experience of working with foreign engineers facilitates knowledge spillover. In addition, the results show that interfirm knowledge transfer is more likely to occur when the engineers of the hiring firm work together with mobile engineers who (1) were focal members at their previous firm, (2) had a good connection with focal members, and (3) are young. This study suggests that engineers from external organizations are effective in knowledge transfer, especially if they are young, mobile engineers who were focal members at their previous firm and had a good connection with a focal member—and can act as an interface in transferring tacit knowledge.

Employee Mobility and Interfirm Relationship Transfer: Evidence from the Mobility and Client Attachments of United States Federal Lobbyists, 1998–2014

Research summary: Employee mobility can erode competitive advantage by facilitating interfirm knowledge and relationship transfer. This study investigates the latter and identifies factors that influence the likelihood of its occurrence. Using a novel database that tracks the employment and client attachments of U.S. federal lobbyists, I show that repeated exchange with employees (firms) increases (decreases) the likelihood clients follow employees who switch firms. Structurally, multiplexity reduces the likelihood of client transfer and weakens the effect of employee–client repeated exchange, with the multiplexity effect strongest when team members have specialized expertise. By examining the main and interactive effects of repeated exchange, multiplexity, and specialized human capital, this study extends prior work by demonstrating how individual, organizational, and structural relationship characteristics affect client transfer and retention ex‐post employee mobility.Managerial summary: When do clients follow employees who switch firms? What can firms do to guard against it? These questions are important in service‐based industries where clients may become loyal to individual employees within the firm rather than to the firm itself. This study provides evidence that helps practicing managers: (a) identify which clients are most at risk of defecting if employees exit, and (b) structure relationships in ways that mitigate the likelihood that employee exit results in client loss. Findings suggest that a client is more likely to defect when she has extensive history working with the exiting employee, particularly if the employee was the sole link between the client and firm. Managers, however, can reduce the risk of client loss following employee exit by structuring relationships so that clients work with teams of employees rather than exclusively with an individual and by increasing the degree of specialization within these teams. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Improving Corporate Venture Investment through Strategic Inter-Firms Knowledge Transfer: An Empirical Evaluation of Service Firms in Nigeria

This study examines corporate venture investment performance through strategic inter-firms knowledge transfer: An Empirical Evaluation of Service Firms in Nigeria. Inter-firm knowledge transfer has reward over traditional markets because firm-specific technological capabilities frequently are based on implied knowledge and are subject to considerable doubt regarding their uniqueness and performance. Inter-firm knowledge transfer enables one firm to gain access to key knowledge based capabilities of another without necessarily acquiring that capability. Two research objectives, research questions and hypotheses were formulated respectively in carrying out this inquiry. Data relevant to the study were reviewed using secondary method of data collection while the chief instrument for analytical data collection was questionnaire, which was designed for selected management employees. A sample of 216 employees of service firms in Nigerian pharmaceutical, banking, electrical and general service firms was used to test the framework. The data was analyzed using students ‘t’ distribution test method. The result of the study showed that strategic inter-firms knowledge transfer impact positively on corporate venture performance. It enables one firm to gain access to key knowledge based capabilities of another without necessarily acquiring that capability. When we examine corporate venture investment through strategic inter-firms knowledge transfer one will certainly conclude that, the primary objective of conducting knowledge transfer activities is to retain and manage various knowledge types that can be used to inform decision making and problem solving. Finally, it was recommended that, Firms should identify the knowledge holders within their organization and motivating them to share their knowledge to enhance it investment and performance.

Interfirm Alliance Interactions and Knowledge Learning : A Conceptual Research Model

Alliance raises many knowledge transfer and interfirm learning issues that have implications for how the alliance partners manage their cooperative learning activities in the alliance system. Many of these implications are grounded in the assumption that partners in the alliances have routines for transferring knowledge, learning, gaining management efficiencies. Thus organisations can support knowledge flow, learning, sharing and even developing with technology and management practices in alliances. This paper introduces a conceptual research model of knowledge transfer within learning IJVs. Based on the review of the literature, this paper identified each category relevant to the research model of knowledge transfer in alliances and proposed several research questions when considering the particular characteristics of knowledge transfer and learning process as an additional way of looking at cooperative relationships. The purpose was to illustrate the importance of interfirm knowledge transfer in IJVs and relevant knowledge transfer barriers and facilitating mechanisms and knowledge transfer stages for alliance partners faced with the new knowledge environments. It justifies the constructs and identifies the interrelationships among these concepts through proposing a framework of interfirm knowledge transfer and organisational learning in IJVs.

Technology-sourcing investment abroad as an enhancer of Chinese MNEs’ innovative capabilities

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to focus on Chinese firms’ innovation processes that are induced by foreign direct investment abroad. The study uses a patent and citation analysis to examine the extent to which investments abroad contribute to enhancing these firms’ innovative capabilities. More specifically, this study focusses on the role of foreign location competitiveness as an asset to provide technological capabilities to Chinese affiliates.Design/methodology/approach– Patents are good indicators of firms’ innovative capabilities. Moreover, patents allow to track the inter-firm knowledge transfer through the citations of patents on which they are based. The authors use an OECD patent database called “OECD REGPAT July 2013” that compiles patents registered with the European Patent Office (EPO) over the period from 1986 to 2013. The authors focus the analysis on patents registered by Chinese multinational enterprises’ (MNEs) based in Europe because the authors assume inter alia that innovations patented by Chinese affiliates in Europe are registered with the EPO. The sample comprises 3,010 patents involving 5,749 citations that the authors have individually examined.Findings– The findings suggest that Chinese MNEs ability to generate innovation based on their own knowledge is low, with a self-citation rate of approximately 4 percent. Patents by Chinese MNEs are largely based on foreign patents, especially from developed economies (at least 90 percent). The citation analysis also suggests that 39.2 percent of citations represent domestic firms in the local recipient country. This subgroup of citations is categorized as follows: 1.04 percent are M&A linkages, 13.8 percent are cluster linkages, and 24.36 percent are localization linkages. The remaining 60.8 percent of the total sample demonstrates that firms do not necessarily need to be collocated in foreign locations with domestic firms to exchange assets.Research limitations/implications– Patent and citation analysis considers only a part of the inter-firm knowledge diffusion. Some innovations are not patented and tacit knowledge diffusion is not observable. Moreover, the analysis focusses only on Chinese outward foreign direct investment to Europe, but a large part of knowledge is accumulated in China thanks to inward foreign direct investment.Originality/value– Many scholars have scrutinized emerging markets multinational enterprises’ strategic asset-seeking investments abroad that are designed to upgrade the companies’ technological capabilities (Cui and Jiang, 2009; Zhang and Filippov, 2009; Huang and Wang, 2013; Amighiniet al., 2014; De Beuleet al., 2014; Nicolas, 2014). However, few studies analyze the results of these strategies in terms of innovation output.

Employee Mobility and Knowledge Spillovers: Integrating Job Matching with Social Capital

In this study, we integrate insights from two separate literatures to explain how employee mobility between organizations results in interfirm knowledge transfer. On the one hand, the job matching ...

The role of highly skilled migrants in the process of inter-firm knowledge transfer across borders

Drawing on multiple case studies of Chinese highly skilled migrants working in the UK, we adopt an integrated approach that combines the contextualized explanation and processual approach to examine the role of individuals with a bilingual–bicultural background in the process of inter-firm international knowledge transfer (IKT). The findings reveal that the process is language and cultural dependent. Possessed with bilingual and bicultural competence, highly skilled migrants play a vital role at each stage of the knowledge transfer process between firms from their country-of-origin and from their adopted country, including identifying potential key contacts, relationship establishment and knowledge exchanges. The research advances existing IKT literature by bridging the analysis between a firm-level and individual-level of knowledge flows across borders, and by recognizing the impact of highly skilled migrants.

Citation Overlap Proximity within the Triad: Evidence from Us and European Patent Citations

The aim of this paper is to investigate the correlation between the technological proximity measure based on patent citations in three economic areas: USA, Japan and the Europe. In each economic area, we use information from two international patent systems to construct the technological proximity for 240 international firms. In particular, we derive firms’ patent citations from United States Patent and Trademarks Office data and European Patent Office data. In order to compute the technological proximity, we follow the methodology developed by Mowery, Oxley, Silverman (1996, “Strategic alliances and inter-firm knowledge transfer,” Strategic Management Journal 17 (Winter special issue): 77-91) and Stuart, Podolny (1996, “Local search and the evolution of technological capabilities,” Strategic Management Journal 17 (Summer special issue): 21-38) which have introduced the citation overlap measure, an alternative way of evaluating proximity between firms. This index asks how many of the patents that one firm cites are also cited by another firm. It is worth noticing the asymmetric nature of this index, which makes it a convincing instrument to consider the knowledge flows between firms. The contribution to the existing literature is to analyse the robustness of the citation overlap proximity measure and the extent to which it can be influenced by patent systems.

Researching on the Factors Influencing Inter-firm Knowledge Transfer

Researching on the Factors Influencing Inter-firm Knowledge Transfer

Governing interfirm knowledge transfer in the Chinese market: The interplay of formal and informal mechanisms

Building on knowledge management literature and relational exchange theory, this study addresses how formal (i.e., ex ante contracts and ex post control) and informal mechanisms (i.e., trust) affect interfirm knowledge transfer in the Chinese emerging market. The results of a survey of 343 manufacturer–supplier relationships show that whereas formal control fosters knowledge transfer, contracts are not significantly related to knowledge transfer, and trust greatly facilitates knowledge flows between exchange relationships. Moreover, trust and contracts have a positive joint effect, whereas trust and control have a negative joint effect, on interfirm knowledge transfer. The findings provide important theoretical and managerial implications for interfirm knowledge governance in China.

Firm Technological Capabilities and Interfirm Knowledge Transfer within Alliance: An Analytical Model Based on Dual Hypercycle

Firm Technological Capabilities and Interfirm Knowledge Transfer within Alliance: An Analytical Model Based on Dual Hypercycle

Partnerships of Excellence: Complementary Specialization in Technology Alliances

Existing research on strategic alliances focuses on exploration of technological capabilities through organizational learning and inter-firm knowledge transfer as the main benefit of technology all...