Title: Relational embeddedness, exploratory learning and firm technological innovation performance

Authors: Xuefeng Liu, Guannan Xu, Baoliang Hu

Addresses: School of Management, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China. ' School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. ' School of Management, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China

Abstract: The research suggests a conceptual model about the impacts of relational embeddedness on the technological firm innovation performance through exploratory learning, and examines the influencing mechanism among relational embeddedness, exploratory learning and technological innovation performance by carrying out studies on 178 manufacturing firms. The hypotheses in the research are partially supported by the result, which supports that trust and joint problem solving between enterprises can promote the acquisition and application of new knowledge which in turn exerts positive effects on technological innovation performance. The application of new knowledge partially plays a mediating effect in the mechanism through which the acquisition of new knowledge influences technological innovation performance.

Keywords: relational embeddedness; exploratory learning; innovation performance; organisational learning; technological innovation; manufacturing firms; new knowledge; manufacturing technology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2010.036921

International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management, 2010 Vol.10 No.4, pp.343 - 359

Published online: 16 Nov 2010 *

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