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The Influence of Inter-Enterprise Knowledge Heterogeneity on Exploratory and Exploitative Innovation Performance: The Moderating Role of Trust and Contract

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  • Chen Tao

    (School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China)

  • Yiying Qu

    (Business School, East China University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai 200042, China)

  • Hao Ren

    (School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China)

  • Zhuopin Guo

    (School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China)

Abstract

Improving enterprise innovation performance is key for enterprises to obtain sustainable competitiveness. With the increasingly fierce market competition of technological and product innovation, acquiring external heterogeneous knowledge of alliance enterprises becomes core to improving innovation performance. In this paper, we constructed a theoretical model to present the effect of inter-enterprise knowledge heterogeneity and alliance network governance mechanisms on enterprise innovation performance. We selected high-tech enterprises as the research object for empirical research and reached the following conclusions: (1) Inter-enterprise knowledge heterogeneity has a positive effect on exploratory and exploitative innovation performance, and (2) trust and contract have a moderating effect on the relationship between inter-enterprise knowledge heterogeneity and enterprise innovation performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen Tao & Yiying Qu & Hao Ren & Zhuopin Guo, 2020. "The Influence of Inter-Enterprise Knowledge Heterogeneity on Exploratory and Exploitative Innovation Performance: The Moderating Role of Trust and Contract," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-19, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:14:p:5677-:d:384700
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Gao, Jing & Zhang, Wanfei & Guan, Tao & Feng, Qiuhong & Mardani, Abbas, 2023. "The effect of manufacturing agent heterogeneity on enterprise innovation performance and competitive advantage in the era of digital transformation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 155(PA).
    3. Duan, Yunlong & Deng, Zhiqing & Liu, Hanxiao & Yang, Meng & Liu, Meiwu & Wang, Xiang, 2022. "Exploring the mediating effect of managerial ability on knowledge diversity and innovation performance in reverse cross-border M&As: Evidence from Chinese manufacturing corporations," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
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    5. Yongbo Sun & Ying Sun & Jingyan Liu, 2022. "Does Strategic Alliance Knowledge Heterogeneity Truly Promote Innovation Performance?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-15, March.

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