IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i19p12308-d927272.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Relationship Management Capability and Service Innovation Performance: The Joint-Effect of Relationship Learning and Competitive Intensity

Author

Listed:
  • Hanyu Zhu

    (School of Management and Economics, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450046, China)

  • Kailing Zhang

    (School of Management and Economics, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450046, China)

  • Gang Li

    (School of Management and Economics, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450046, China)

  • Lin Chen

    (School of Management and Economics, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450046, China)

  • Xijie Zhao

    (School of Management and Economics, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450046, China)

Abstract

Relationship management capability is a significant factor in promoting a firm’s service innovation performance. Although there is a rich body of study on the role of relationship management capability in performance of firms, scant attention has been paid to the joint effect of relationship learning and competitive intensity. Drawing on the service innovation, network capability and relationship learning theories, this paper establishes a relevant conceptual model, and adopts a hierarchical regression analysis to examine the model with a data set of 298 firms from China. Results show that relationship management capability positively affects the service innovation performance of firms; however, relationship learning partially negatively moderates the relationship between relationship management capability and service innovation performance. The three-way interaction effects of relationship management capability, relationship learning and competitive intensity are partially significant. This paper extends the existing literature on service innovation, network capabilities and relational learning in a service-centered economy. The findings further clarify the process mechanism of the impact of relational management capabilities on enterprise service innovation performance, and should help enterprises utilize relational learning and competitive intensity to break through resource limitations rapidly. The paper offers some enlightenment on promoting service innovation.

Suggested Citation

  • Hanyu Zhu & Kailing Zhang & Gang Li & Lin Chen & Xijie Zhao, 2022. "Relationship Management Capability and Service Innovation Performance: The Joint-Effect of Relationship Learning and Competitive Intensity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-22, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:19:p:12308-:d:927272
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/19/12308/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/19/12308/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Liao, Chien Hsiang & Yen, Hsiuju Rebecca, 2012. "Quantifying the degree of research collaboration: A comparative study of collaborative measures," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 6(1), pages 27-33.
    2. Feng, Taiwen & Wang, Dan & Lawton, Alan & Luo, Ben Nanfeng, 2019. "Customer orientation and firm performance: The joint moderating effects of ethical leadership and competitive intensity," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 111-121.
    3. Wang, Chao-Hung & Hsu, Li-Chang, 2014. "Building exploration and exploitation in the high-tech industry: The role of relationship learning," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 331-340.
    4. Erik Lindhult & Koteshwar Chirumalla & Pejvak Oghazi & Vinit Parida, 2018. "Value logics for service innovation: practice-driven implications for service-dominant logic," Service Business, Springer;Pan-Pacific Business Association, vol. 12(3), pages 457-481, September.
    5. Giulia Nardelli & Marcel Broumels, 2018. "Managing Innovation Processes Through Value Co-Creation: A Process Case From Business-To-Business Service Practise," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 22(03), pages 1-40, April.
    6. C. Storey & D. Kelly, 2001. "Measuring the Performance of New Service Development Activities," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(2), pages 71-90, April.
    7. Young Yun, Won & Mi Lee, Yu & Seok Choi, Yong, 2011. "Optimal inventory control of empty containers in inland transportation system," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(1), pages 451-457, September.
    8. Katrina Lintukangas, 2011. "Supplier relationship management capability in global supply management," International Journal of Procurement Management, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 4(1), pages 1-19.
    9. Tang, Jianmin, 2006. "Competition and innovation behaviour," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 68-82, February.
    10. Haugland, Sven A. & Myrtveit, Ingunn & Nygaard, Arne, 2007. "Market orientation and performance in the service industry: A data envelopment analysis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 60(11), pages 1191-1197, November.
    11. Per Carlborg & Daniel Kindström & Christian Kowalkowski, 2014. "The evolution of service innovation research: a critical review and synthesis," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(5), pages 373-398, March.
    12. Jana Hojnik & Viktor Prokop & Jan Stejskal, 2022. "R&D as bridge to sustainable development? Case of Czech Republic and Slovenia," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(1), pages 146-160, January.
    13. Mohammad Moshtari, 2016. "Inter-Organizational Fit, Relationship Management Capability, and Collaborative Performance within a Humanitarian Setting," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 25(9), pages 1542-1557, September.
    14. Ritter, Thomas & Gemunden, Hans Georg, 2003. "Network competence: Its impact on innovation success and its antecedents," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 56(9), pages 745-755, September.
    15. Lyu, Chongchong & Zhang, Feng & Ji, Jing & Teo, Thompson S.H. & Wang, Ting & Liu, Zifan, 2022. "Competitive intensity and new product development outcomes: The roles of knowledge integration and organizational unlearning," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 121-133.
    16. Marta Kadłubek & Eleftherios Thalassinos & Joanna Domagała & Sandra Grabowska & Sebastian Saniuk, 2022. "Intelligent Transportation System Applications and Logistics Resources for Logistics Customer Service in Road Freight Transport Enterprises," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-27, June.
    17. Xie, Xuemei & Wang, Hongwei & García, Javier Sendra, 2021. "How does customer involvement in service innovation motivate service innovation performance? The roles of relationship learning and knowledge absorptive capacity," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 630-643.
    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. Qiansong Zhang & Yingying Zhang & Taiwen Feng, 2024. "Impacts of paradox cognition and organizational unlearning on supply chain resilience: a perspective of paradox theory," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 1022-1038, September.
    2. Marie-Anne Le-Dain & Lamiae Benhayoun & Judy Matthews & Marine Liard, 2023. "Barriers and opportunities of digital servitization for SMEs: the effect of smart Product-Service System business models," Service Business, Springer;Pan-Pacific Business Association, vol. 17(1), pages 359-393, March.
    3. Sinkovics, Noemi & Liu, Chia-Ling (Eunice) & Sinkovics, Rudolf R. & Mudambi, Ram, 2021. "The dark side of trust in global value chains: Taiwan’s electronics and IT hardware industries," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 56(4).
    4. Gerald Midgley & Erik Lindhult, 2021. "A systems perspective on systemic innovation," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(5), pages 635-670, October.
    5. Emmanuel Ebo Arthur & Solomon Gyamfi & Wolfgang Gerstlberger & Jan Stejskal & Viktor Prokop, 2023. "Towards Circular Economy: Unveiling Heterogeneous Effects of Government Policy Stringency, Environmentally Related Innovation, and Human Capital within OECD Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-18, March.
    6. Alhassan Abdul-Wakeel Karakara & Evans Osabuohien, 2020. "ICT adoption, competition and innovation of informal firms in West Africa: a comparative study of Ghana and Nigeria," Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 14(3), pages 397-414, June.
    7. Bentivoglio, Deborah & Bucci, Giorgia & Belletti, Matteo & Finco, Adele, 2022. "A theoretical framework on network’s dynamics for precision agriculture technologies adoption," Revista de Economia e Sociologia Rural (RESR), Sociedade Brasileira de Economia e Sociologia Rural, vol. 60(4), January.
    8. Malgorzata Gorzalczynska-Koczkodaj, 2023. "Intelligent Specializations as an Opportunity for Regional Development on the Example of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4), pages 446-455.
    9. Thomas, Rhodri & Wood, Emma, 2015. "The absorptive capacity of tourism organisations," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 84-99.
    10. Dirk Crass & Franz Schwiebacher, 2017. "The importance of trademark protection for product differentiation and innovation," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 44(2), pages 199-220, June.
    11. Zhou, Dan & Yan, Tingting & Zhao, Lilong & Guo, Jingjing, 2020. "Performance implications of servitization: Does a Manufacturer's service supply network matter?," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 219(C), pages 31-42.
    12. Best, Bernadette & Miller, Kristel & McAdam, Rodney & Maalaoui, Adnane, 2022. "Business model innovation within SPOs: Exploring the antecedents and mechanisms facilitating multi-level value co-creation within a value-network," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 475-494.
    13. Pietro Moncada-Paternò-Castello, 2022. "Top R&D investors, structural change and the R&D growth performance of young and old firms," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 12(1), pages 1-33, March.
    14. Rameshwar Dubey & Nezih Altay & Constantin Blome, 2019. "Swift trust and commitment: The missing links for humanitarian supply chain coordination?," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 283(1), pages 159-177, December.
    15. Kazadi, Kande & Lievens, Annouk & Mahr, Dominik, 2016. "Stakeholder co-creation during the innovation process: Identifying capabilities for knowledge creation among multiple stakeholders," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(2), pages 525-540.
    16. Branstetter, Lee & Chatterjee, Chirantan & Higgins, Matthew J., 2022. "Generic competition and the incentives for early-stage pharmaceutical innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(10).
    17. Holopainen, Jani & Mattila, Osmo & Pöyry, Essi & Parvinen, Petri, 2020. "Applying design science research methodology in the development of virtual reality forest management services," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    18. Guericke, Stefan & Tierney, Kevin, 2015. "Liner shipping cargo allocation with service levels and speed optimization," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 40-60.
    19. Samuel Facanha Camara & Brenno Buarque de Lima & Teresa Lenice Nogueira da Gama Mota & Alanna Lima e Silva & Pablo Padilha, 2018. "Gender The Management of Innovation Networks: Possibilities of Collaboration in Light of Game Theory," Business and Management Studies, Redfame publishing, vol. 4(2), pages 24-34, June.
    20. Agata Sudolska & Justyna Łapińska, 2020. "Exploring Determinants of Innovation Capability in Manufacturing Companies Operating in Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-21, August.

    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:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:19:p:12308-:d:927272. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.