Title: The non-linear influences of social capital on knowledge transfer in international alliances: an analysis using multivariate adaptive regression splines

Authors: Yi-Chih Lee; Wei-Li Wu

Addresses: Department of International Business, Chien Hsin University of Science and Technology, No. 229, Jiansing Rd., Jhongli City, Taoyuan County 32097, Taiwan ' Department of International Business, Chien Hsin University of Science and Technology, No. 229, Jiansing Rd., Jhongli City, Taoyuan County 32097, Taiwan

Abstract: This study applied multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) to explore the nonlinear relationships between social capital and knowledge transfer in international alliances. Using the social capital theory, several attributes were identified for the different dimensions of social capital between alliance partners, and the relationships between these attributes and knowledge transfer in international alliances were explored. Samples of 172 Taiwan-based international alliances were used for the empirical test. This study revealed that an instant communication system, an attribute of the structural dimension of social capital, has a nonlinear negative influence on knowledge transfer. Relational capital, an attribute of the relational dimension of social capital, has nonlinear and positive influences on knowledge transfer. Cooperation and competition relationships, attributes of the cognitive dimension of social capital, both have nonlinear and positive influences on knowledge transfer.

Keywords: knowledge transfer; social capital; multivariate adaptive regression splines; nonlinear relationships; international alliances; Taiwan; instant communications; relational capital; cooperation; competition.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2014.058729

International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management, 2014 Vol.14 No.1, pp.29 - 43

Received: 17 Nov 2012
Accepted: 18 Apr 2013
Published online: 27 Oct 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article