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Existing Knowledge Assets and Disruptive Innovation: The Role of Knowledge Embeddedness and Specificity

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  • Chunpei Lin

    (Business Management Research Center, School of Business Administration, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou 362021, China)

  • Baixun Li

    (School of Business Administration, Guangdong University of Finance and Economics, Guangzhou 510320, China)

  • Yenchun Jim Wu

    (Graduate Institute of Global Business and Strategy, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 10645, Taiwan
    School of Business Administration, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou 362021, China)

Abstract

Disruptive innovation has created a significant impact on management practices and academia. This study investigated the impact of existing knowledge assets on disruptive innovation by analyzing the role of knowledge embeddedness and specificity. We conducted a hierarchical regression analysis by using survey data from 173 Chinese industrial firms to test the direct and indirect effects of knowledge embeddedness and specificity on disruptive innovation, which can be divided into outward-oriented and internal-oriented disruptive innovation. The results indicated that knowledge embeddedness not only played a positive role in knowledge specificity, but also had a positive effect on outward-oriented disruptive innovation. Furthermore, knowledge specificity exhibited opposite functions in outward-oriented and internal-oriented disruptive innovation. In addition, knowledge specificity mediated the relationship between knowledge embeddedness and outward-oriented (internal-oriented) disruptive innovation.

Suggested Citation

  • Chunpei Lin & Baixun Li & Yenchun Jim Wu, 2018. "Existing Knowledge Assets and Disruptive Innovation: The Role of Knowledge Embeddedness and Specificity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-15, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:2:p:342-:d:129187
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    Cited by:

    1. Patricia Ordóñez de Pablos & Miltiadis Lytras, 2018. "Knowledge Management, Innovation and Big Data: Implications for Sustainability, Policy Making and Competitiveness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-7, June.
    2. Antonio, Jerome L. & Kanbach, Dominik K., 2023. "Contextual factors of disruptive innovation: A systematic review and framework," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    3. Yoonkyo Cho, 2020. "The Effects of Knowledge Assets and Path Dependence in Innovations on Firm Value in the Korean Semiconductor Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-13, March.
    4. Jian Shen & Zhenquan Sha & Yenchun Jim Wu, 2020. "Enterprise Adaptive Marketing Capabilities and Sustainable Innovation Performance: An Opportunity–Resource Integration Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-15, January.
    5. Zhengda Xu & Haiyao Liu & Song Lin, 2022. "The Influence of Government Green Development Policy on a Firm’s Disruptive Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-15, December.

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