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Inter-organizational governance and trilateral trust building: a case study of crowdsourcing-based open innovation in China

Author

Listed:
  • Wenbo Guo

    (Xi’an Jiaotong University)

  • Jing Betty Feng

    (Farmingdale State College (SUNY))

  • Brad McKenna

    (University of East Anglia)

  • Pengzhu Zhang

    (Shanghai Jiaotong University)

Abstract

In a case study of a Chinese crowdsourcing intermediary, we explore the impact of inter-organizational governance on trilateral trust-building. We show that formal control and relational governance mechanisms are essential for swift and knowledge-based trust in R&D crowdsourcing. The case also indicates that Chinese businesses continue to use guanxi (informal personal connections) as a relational and contingent mechanism to maintain affect-based trust, but guanxi is shown to inhibit the growth of Internet-based crowdsourcing for open innovation in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Wenbo Guo & Jing Betty Feng & Brad McKenna & Pengzhu Zhang, 2017. "Inter-organizational governance and trilateral trust building: a case study of crowdsourcing-based open innovation in China," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 16(3), pages 187-207, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:pal:abaman:v:16:y:2017:i:3:d:10.1057_s41291-017-0019-1
    DOI: 10.1057/s41291-017-0019-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Xu, Hui & Wu, Yang & Hamari, Juho, 2022. "What determines the successfulness of a crowdsourcing campaign: A study on the relationships between indicators of trustworthiness, popularity, and success," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 484-495.
    2. Fang Jia & Zhilin Yang, 2021. "Perceptual difference of dependence and trust in marketing channel: reconsideration of dependence measurement," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 20(1), pages 78-104, February.
    3. Seung Min Lee & Sang Yong Kim & Shijin Yoo & Tae Ho Song, 2021. "The cross-buying effect in a multi-vendor loyalty program in Korea," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 20(3), pages 339-369, July.
    4. Li Wang & Yuan Yang & Yishuai Li, 2021. "Extending lead-user theory to a virtual brand community: the roles of flow experience and trust," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 20(5), pages 618-643, November.
    5. Lutao Ning & Dylan Sutherland & Xiaolan Fu, 2017. "Local context and innovation in China," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 16(3), pages 117-129, July.

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