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Local and international knowledge search and product innovation: The moderating role of technology boundary spanning

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  • Wu, Jie
  • Wu, Zefu

Abstract

Drawing on the external knowledge search literature and the literature on international diversification, this study examined the interactive effect of local and international search for new knowledge on product innovation and the moderating role of a firm's technology boundary spanning activities. Specifically, it proposed that extensive local and international search interact to positively predict product innovation success and this relationship is weaker for firms entering a new technology domain. The results using data on 343 Chinese manufacturing firms across 5 industries indicated the support for the predictions.

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  • Wu, Jie & Wu, Zefu, 2014. "Local and international knowledge search and product innovation: The moderating role of technology boundary spanning," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(3), pages 542-551.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:iburev:v:23:y:2014:i:3:p:542-551
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2013.09.002
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    5. Wu, Jie & Pangarkar, Nitin & Wu, Zefu, 2016. "The moderating effect of technology and marketing know-how in the regional-global diversification link: Evidence from emerging market multinationals," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(6), pages 1273-1284.
    6. Sheng, Margaret L., 2019. "Foreign tacit knowledge and a capabilities perspective on MNEs’ product innovativeness: Examining source-recipient knowledge absorption platforms," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 154-163.
    7. Ferraris, Alberto & Bogers, Marcel L.A.M. & Bresciani, Stefano, 2020. "Subsidiary innovation performance: Balancing external knowledge sources and internal embeddedness," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 26(4).
    8. Kiessling, Timothy & Maley, Jane Frances & Moeller, Miriam & Dabić, Marina, 2023. "Managing global knowledge transfer: Inpatriate manager embeddedness and firm innovation," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(2).
    9. Antonio Messeni Petruzzelli & Gianluca Murgia, 2020. "University–Industry collaborations and international knowledge spillovers: a joint-patent investigation," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 45(4), pages 958-983, August.
    10. Bai, Wensong & Holmström-Lind, Christine & Johanson, Martin, 2018. "Leveraging networks, capabilities and opportunities for international success: A study on returnee entrepreneurial ventures," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 51-62.
    11. Aliasghar, Omid & Haar, Jarrod, 2023. "Open innovation: Are absorptive and desorptive capabilities complementary?," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(2).
    12. Heuschneider, Sara & Herstatt, Cornelius, 2016. "External search for exploration of future discontinuities and trends: Implications from the literature using co-citation and content analysis," Working Papers 92, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Institute for Technology and Innovation Management.
    13. Gao, Xue & Rai, Varun, 2023. "Knowledge acquisition and innovation quality: The moderating role of geographical characteristics of technology," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    14. Aliasghar, Omid & Rose, Elizabeth L. & Asakawa, Kazuhiro, 2022. "Sources of knowledge and process innovation: The moderating role of perceived competitive intensity," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(2).
    15. Dey, Bidit L. & Nasef, Youssef Tarek & Brown, David M & Samuel, Lalnunpuia & Singh, Pallavi & Apostolidis, Chrysostomos, 2023. "(Im)migrants’ appropriation of culture: Reciprocal influence of personal and work contexts," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 58(2).
    16. Yu Zhang & Xuechun Zhang & Hao Zhang & Lusi A, 2022. "The Influence of External Knowledge Searches on Enterprises’ Innovation Performance: A Meta-Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-23, July.
    17. Santos-Arteaga, Francisco J. & Di Caprio, Debora & Tavana, Madjid & O’Connor, Aidan, 2017. "Innovation dynamics and labor force restructuring with asymmetrically developed national innovation systems," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(1), pages 36-56.

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