The Impact of Configuration of Ties With Different Types of Actors in an Innovation Network on Technology Newness Based on QCA

This paper aims to solve the “paradox” between strength of tie and technology newness from a new perspective. It intends to disclose that technology newness depends on combinations of tie strengths of different types of actors in a network rather than one type of actor's tie strength. To do so, a qualitative comparative analysis is conducted based on 166 knowledge-intensive firms in Beijing Zhongguancun High-Tech Park. Results suggest that there are three combinations of different types of actors' tie strength sufficient for technology newness, and strong tie with firms is a necessary condition for technology newness. Results confirm that tie strength with an individual type of actors have complex trade-off effects and that only specific combinations of tie strength with different types of actors in an innovation network act as sufficient conditions for technology newness. The result tends to show that balanced and scientific management of relationship between focal firms and different actors in a network is of great importance to technology innovation and strategy making.