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Combining knowledge stock and knowledge flow to generate superior incremental innovation performance — Evidence from Swiss manufacturing

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  • Rupietta, Christian
  • Backes-Gellner, Uschi

Abstract

Firms generate new knowledge that leads to innovations by recombining existing knowledge sources. A successful recombination depends on the availability of a knowledge stock (human capital pool) and the flow of knowledge within the firm (induced by HRM systems). While human resource theory expects complementarities between human capital pools and HRM systems, it does not explicitly address how knowledge exchange may be guaranteed or fostered. Moreover, empirical approaches neglect the complexity of such complementarities. In this study we develop a model that integrates a firm's knowledge stock and flow into a knowledge creation (KC) system comprising four ideal types. This system explains the occurrence of superior incremental innovation performance. We empirically analyze the KC system by applying fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) and identify configurations concurring with our ideal types. The results show that the use of human capital and HRM practices depends on firm size and industry dynamism.

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  • Rupietta, Christian & Backes-Gellner, Uschi, 2019. "Combining knowledge stock and knowledge flow to generate superior incremental innovation performance — Evidence from Swiss manufacturing," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 209-222.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:94:y:2019:i:c:p:209-222
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2017.04.003
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    7. Brea, Edgar & Ford, Jerad A., 2023. "No silver bullet: Cognitive technology does not lead to novelty in all firms," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    8. Zheng, Lu & Ulrich, Klaus & Sendra-García, Javier, 2021. "Qualitative comparative analysis: Configurational paths to innovation performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 83-93.
    9. Duan, Yunlong & Yang, Meng & Huang, Lei & Chin, Tachia & Fiano, Fabio & de Nuccio, Elbano & Zhou, Li, 2022. "Unveiling the impacts of explicit vs. tacit knowledge hiding on innovation quality: The moderating role of knowledge flow within a firm," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 1489-1500.
    10. Shuman Zhang & Changhong Yuan & Yuying Wang, 2019. "The Impact of Industry–University–Research Alliance Portfolio Diversity on Firm Innovation: Evidence from Chinese Manufacturing Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-16, April.
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    12. Malik, Ashish & Froese, Fabian Jintae & Sharma, Piyush, 2020. "Role of HRM in knowledge integration: Towards a conceptual framework," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 524-535.
    13. Rodríguez-Pose, Andrés & Wilkie, Callum & Zhang, Min, 2021. "Innovating in “lagging” cities: a comparative exploration of the dynamics of innovation in Chinese cities," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 120989, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
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