IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/techno/v145y2025ics0166497225001051.html

Dual boundary-spanning search and open innovation in China: The mediating role of organizational resilience and the moderating role of big data analytics capability

Author

Listed:
  • Jin, Shumo
  • Wang, Juanru
  • Zhu, Peiyu
  • Moehler, Robert

Abstract

Open innovation is crucial for achieving high-quality and sustainable business growth. However, it remains unclear how prospective boundary-spanning search and responsive boundary-spanning search impact organizational resilience and open innovation in the VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) new normal. Based on the resource-based theory and dynamic capabilities theory, this paper classifies boundary-spanning search into prospective boundary-spanning search and responsive boundary-spanning search to investigates the impact on open innovation and organizational resilience, and analyze the moderating role of big data analytics capability. The empirical study of 293 Chinese smart manufacturing firms indicates that both prospective and responsive boundary-spanning search have an inverted U-shaped impact on open innovation and organizational resilience. Organizational resilience partially mediates the relationships between prospective boundary-spanning search, responsive boundary-spanning search, and open innovation. Moreover, big data analytics capability moderates and flattens the inverted U-shaped relationships between prospective and responsive boundary-spanning search, and organizational resilience. This study explores the intrinsic mechanism of prospective and responsive boundary-spanning search on open innovation through organizational resilience. The findings enrich and expand the research on the antecedents of open innovation.

Suggested Citation

  • Jin, Shumo & Wang, Juanru & Zhu, Peiyu & Moehler, Robert, 2025. "Dual boundary-spanning search and open innovation in China: The mediating role of organizational resilience and the moderating role of big data analytics capability," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:techno:v:145:y:2025:i:c:s0166497225001051
    DOI: 10.1016/j.technovation.2025.103273
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166497225001051
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.technovation.2025.103273?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Helena Garriga & Georg von Krogh & Sebastian Spaeth, 2013. "How constraints and knowledge impact open innovation," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(9), pages 1134-1144, September.
    2. Flor, M. Luisa & Cooper, Sarah Y. & Oltra, María J., 2018. "External knowledge search, absorptive capacity and radical innovation in high-technology firms," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 183-194.
    3. Zhu, Peiyu & Miao, Xiaoming & Jin, Shumo & Moehler, Robert, 2023. "Transactive memory system, boundary-spanning search and business model innovation: the moderating role of environmental dynamism," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    4. Clint Chadwick & Janice F. Super & Kiwook Kwon, 2015. "Resource orchestration in practice: CEO emphasis on SHRM, commitment-based HR systems, and firm performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(3), pages 360-376, March.
    5. Listowel Owusu Appiah, 2024. "Does proactive boundary‐spanning search drive green innovation? Exploring the significance of green dynamic capabilities and analytics capabilities," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(4), pages 2589-2599, July.
    6. Ferreira, Jorge & Coelho, Arnaldo & Moutinho, Luiz, 2020. "Dynamic capabilities, creativity and innovation capability and their impact on competitive advantage and firm performance: The moderating role of entrepreneurial orientation," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 92.
    7. Lopez-Vega, Henry & Tell, Fredrik & Vanhaverbeke, Wim, 2016. "Where and how to search? Search paths in open innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 125-136.
    8. Parker, Hamieda & Ameen, Khadija, 2018. "The role of resilience capabilities in shaping how firms respond to disruptions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 535-541.
    9. Linus Dahlander & Siobhan O'Mahony & David M. Gann, 2016. "One foot in, one foot out: how does individuals' external search breadth affect innovation outcomes?," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(2), pages 280-302, February.
    10. Lin, Jiabao & Fan, Yuchen, 2024. "Seeking sustainable performance through organizational resilience: Examining the role of supply chain integration and digital technology usage," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    11. Napier, Elizabeth & Liu, Steven Y.H. & Liu, Jingting, 2024. "Adaptive strength: Unveiling a multilevel dynamic process model for organizational resilience," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    12. Naqshbandi, M. Muzamil & Tabche, Ibrahim, 2018. "The interplay of leadership, absorptive capacity, and organizational learning culture in open innovation: Testing a moderated mediation model," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 156-167.
    13. Gerson Francis Tuazon & Rachel Wolfgramm & Kyle Powys Whyte, 2021. "Can You Drink Money? Integrating Organizational Perspective-Taking and Organizational Resilience in a Multi-level Systems Framework for Sustainability Leadership," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 168(3), pages 469-490, January.
    14. Wang, Nan & Wan, Jiahao & Ma, Zhenzhong & Zhou, Yan & Chen, Jin, 2023. "How digital platform capabilities improve sustainable innovation performance of firms: The mediating role of open innovation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    15. Huynh, Minh-Tay & Nippa, Michael & Aichner, Thomas, 2023. "Big data analytics capabilities: Patchwork or progress? A systematic review of the status quo and implications for future research," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    16. Richard F. J. Haans & Constant Pieters & Zi-Lin He, 2016. "Thinking about U: Theorizing and testing U- and inverted U-shaped relationships in strategy research," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(7), pages 1177-1195, July.
    17. El-Kassar, Abdul-Nasser & Singh, Sanjay Kumar, 2019. "Green innovation and organizational performance: The influence of big data and the moderating role of management commitment and HR practices," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 483-498.
    18. Rialti, Riccardo & Zollo, Lamberto & Ferraris, Alberto & Alon, Ilan, 2019. "Big data analytics capabilities and performance: Evidence from a moderated multi-mediation model," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    19. Shela, V. & Danks, Nicholas P. & Ramayah, T. & Ahmad, Noor Hazlina, 2024. "An application of the COA Framework: Building a sound foundation for organizational resilience," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    20. Justyna Tasic & Sulfikar Amir & Jethro Tan & Majeed Khader, 2020. "A multilevel framework to enhance organizational resilience," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(6), pages 713-738, June.
    21. Dubey, Rameshwar & Bryde, David J. & Dwivedi, Yogesh K. & Graham, Gary & Foropon, Cyril & Papadopoulos, Thanos, 2023. "Dynamic digital capabilities and supply chain resilience: The role of government effectiveness," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    22. Cadden, Trevor & Weerawardena, Jay & Cao, Guangming & Duan, Yanqing & McIvor, Ronan, 2023. "Examining the role of big data and marketing analytics in SMEs innovation and competitive advantage: A knowledge integration perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    23. Sivarajah, Uthayasankar & Kumar, Sachin & Kumar, Vinod & Chatterjee, Sheshadri & Li, Jing, 2024. "A study on big data analytics and innovation: From technological and business cycle perspectives," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    24. David J. Teece & Gary Pisano & Amy Shuen, 1997. "Dynamic capabilities and strategic management," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(7), pages 509-533, August.
    25. Kathleen M. Eisenhardt & Jeffrey A. Martin, 2000. "Dynamic capabilities: what are they?," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(10‐11), pages 1105-1121, October.
    26. Do, Hoa & Budhwar, Pawan & Shipton, Helen & Nguyen, Hai-Dang & Nguyen, Bach, 2022. "Building organizational resilience, innovation through resource-based management initiatives, organizational learning and environmental dynamism," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 808-821.
    27. Ogink, Ruben H.A.J. & Goossen, Martin C. & Romme, A. Georges L. & Akkermans, Henk, 2023. "Mechanisms in open innovation: A review and synthesis of the literature," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    28. Martín-Rojas, Rodrigo & Garrido-Moreno, Aurora & García-Morales, Víctor J., 2023. "Social media use, corporate entrepreneurship and organizational resilience: A recipe for SMEs success in a post-Covid scenario," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    29. Wang, Xuemei & Han, Xu & Li, Huimin, 2023. "The impact of innovation openness on innovation performance of manufacturing corporates –Moderating effect based on knowledge reorganization," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 55(PA).
    30. Yang, Miaomiao & Wang, Juanru & Zhang, Xiaodi, 2021. "Boundary-spanning search and sustainable competitive advantage: The mediating roles of exploratory and exploitative innovations," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 290-299.
    31. Ferreras-Méndez, José Luis & Fernández-Mesa, Anabel & Alegre, Joaquín, 2016. "The relationship between knowledge search strategies and absorptive capacity: A deeper look," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 48-61.
    32. AlNuaimi, Bader Khamis & Khan, Mehmood & Ajmal, Mian M., 2021. "The role of big data analytics capabilities in greening e-procurement: A higher order PLS-SEM analysis," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    33. Chun Xue & Juanru Wang, 2024. "Proactive boundary‐spanning search, organizational resilience, and radical green innovation," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(3), pages 1834-1852, March.
    34. Abhirup Chakrabarti, 2015. "Organizational adaptation in an economic shock: The role of growth reconfiguration," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(11), pages 1717-1738, November.
    35. Khlystova, Olena & Kalyuzhnova, Yelena & Belitski, Maksim, 2022. "The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the creative industries: A literature review and future research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 1192-1210.
    36. Shamim, Saqib & Zeng, Jing & Shafi Choksy, Umair & Shariq, Syed Muhammad, 2020. "Connecting big data management capabilities with employee ambidexterity in Chinese multinational enterprises through the mediation of big data value creation at the employee level," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(6).
    37. Qu, Guannan & Chen, Jin & Zhang, Ruhao & Wang, Luyao & Yang, Yayu, 2023. "Technological search strategy and breakthrough innovation: An integrated approach based on main-path analysis," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    38. Liang, Lin & Li, Yan, 2024. "How does organizational resilience promote firm growth? The mediating role of strategic change and managerial myopia," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    39. Jasjit Singh & Lee Fleming, 2010. "Lone Inventors as Sources of Breakthroughs: Myth or Reality?," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 56(1), pages 41-56, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chun Xue & Juanru Wang, 2024. "Proactive boundary‐spanning search, organizational resilience, and radical green innovation," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(3), pages 1834-1852, March.
    2. Juanru Wang & Yajiong Xue & Jin Yang, 2020. "Boundary‐spanning search and firms' green innovation: The moderating role of resource orchestration capability," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(2), pages 361-374, February.
    3. Cobbinah, Benjamin & Agyapong, Ahmed & Mensah, Henry Kofi & Acquaah, Moses, 2025. "Driving market success: The roles of organizational creativity, resilience, and turbulence in Ghanaian manufacturing firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    4. Cricelli, Livio & Mauriello, Roberto & Strazzullo, Serena, 2023. "Preventing open innovation failures: A managerial framework," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    5. Zhang, Ruihan & Li, Xiaodong & Yan, Xin & Bian, Yiwen, 2024. "Does customer concentration matter in business model value: Threshold effects of carbon emissions and dynamic capabilities?," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    6. Tortora, Debora & Chierici, Roberto & Farina Briamonte, Massimiliano & Tiscini, Riccardo, 2021. "‘I digitize so I exist’. Searching for critical capabilities affecting firms’ digital innovation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 193-204.
    7. Yuan, Chun & Xue, Doudou & He, Xin, 2021. "A balancing strategy for ambidextrous learning, dynamic capabilities, and business model design, the opposite moderating effects of environmental dynamism," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    8. Zhao, Guoqing & Xie, Xiaotian & Wang, Yi & Liu, Shaofeng & Jones, Paul & Lopez, Carmen, 2024. "Barrier analysis to improve big data analytics capability of the maritime industry: A mixed-method approach," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    9. Zhan, Yuqing & Li, Wanhong, 2024. "Has digital transformation enhanced the resilience of manufacturing enterprises?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(PB).
    10. Liu, Zhiyang & Liu, Jianyi & Zhao, Chenfang & Qiu, Zhenyu, 2025. "Business model innovation in the age of metaverse," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    11. Krammer, Sorin, 2021. "Navigating The New Normal: Which Firms Have Adapted Better To The Covid-19 Disruption?," MPRA Paper 109485, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Giordino, Daniele & Troise, Ciro & Bresciani, Stefano & Camilleri, Mark Anthony, 2025. "Growth hacking capability: Antecedents and performance implications in the context of SMEs," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    13. Sun, Yuan & Mou, Saiya & Zhu, Mengyi & Jeyaraj, Anand, 2025. "Impact of digital technology affordance on organizational resilience: An ambidextrous innovation perspective using a mixed-methods approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    14. Wang, Yan & Yang, Naiding & Fawad Sharif, Sayed Muhammad & Zhang, Mingzhen & Guo, Min, 2024. "Technical environment matters: The effect of dynamic network capability on innovation based on a moderated mediation analysis," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    15. Krammer, Sorin M.S., 2022. "Navigating the New Normal: Which firms have adapted better to the COVID-19 disruption?," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    16. Ritter-Hayashi, Daniela & Knoben, Joris & Vermeulen, Patrick A.M., 2021. "Temporary employment: Curse or blessing for a firm's absorptive capacity?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    17. Mansour Alyahya & Meqbel Aliedan & Gomaa Agag & Ziad H. Abdelmoety, 2023. "Understanding the Relationship between Big Data Analytics Capabilities and Sustainable Performance: The Role of Strategic Agility and Firm Creativity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-17, May.
    18. Su, Wenjia & Junge, Sebastian, 2023. "Unlocking the recipe for organizational resilience: A review and future research directions," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 41(6), pages 1086-1105.
    19. Stefano D’Angelo & Angelo Cavallo & Antonio Ghezzi & Francesco Di Lorenzo, 2024. "Understanding corporate entrepreneurship in the digital age: a review and research agenda," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 18(12), pages 3719-3774, December.
    20. Hongyi Mao & Zongjun Wang & Lin Yi, 2021. "Does Entrepreneurial Orientation Lead to Successful Sustainable Innovation? The Evidence from Chinese Environmentally Friendly Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-19, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:techno:v:145:y:2025:i:c:s0166497225001051. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01664972 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.