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Knowledge management capabilities of lead firms in innovation ecosystems

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  • Chander Velu

Abstract

Knowledge management is a key capability for innovation. Prior research has typically conceptualized and examined knowledge management capabilities as a property of an individual firm or business unit. More recently, however, the locus of competition and innovation has started to shift from the individual firm to firms working together as an ecosystem. In light of these changing realities, we explicate a set of capabilities that are built, maintained, and exercised by the lead firm in order to enhance innovation within ecosystems. We highlight three knowledge management capabilities: (1) knowledge acquisition, (2) knowledge sharing, and (3) knowledge utilization. Drawing on open and closed action strategies firms use to foster team-based innovation, we develop propositions for the knowledge management capabilities of the lead firm. Our approach highlights three salient tensions that arise from team based innovation: autonomy–control, dissent–consent and uncertainty–certainty. We highlight how the three tensions need to be managed across knowledge management capabilities in order to increase the rate of innovation of the ecosystem. In doing so, we contribute to the evolving marketing literature on sensing and responding in ecosystems in order to provide customers with superior value. We discuss the implications for both managers and theory. Copyright Academy of Marketing Science 2015

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  • Chander Velu, 2015. "Knowledge management capabilities of lead firms in innovation ecosystems," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 5(3), pages 123-141, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jknowl:v:5:y:2015:i:3:p:123-141
    DOI: 10.1007/s13162-015-0068-6
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    3. Chipo Nancy Ngongoni & Sara (Saartjie) Grobbelaar & Cornelius Stephanus Schutte, 2022. "Making Sense of the Unknown: Using Change Attractors to Explain Innovation Ecosystem Emergence," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 35(2), pages 227-252, April.
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    5. Diane Coyle, 2021. "The idea of productivity," Working Papers 003, The Productivity Institute.
    6. Qiaohong Pan & Wenping Luo & Benjamin Ohene Kwapong Baffoe, 2024. "The Impact of Control and Innovation Capabilities on Performance in a Platform Ecosystem: An Assessment of Chinese Firms," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(3), pages 12783-12808, September.
    7. Antje S. J. Hütten & Torsten Oliver Salge & Thomas Niemand & Florian U. Siems, 2018. "Advancing relationship marketing theory: exploring customer relationships through a process-centric framework," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 8(1), pages 39-57, June.
    8. Marek Lavčák & Oto Hudec & Žofia Sinčáková, 2019. "Local and Institutional Factors of Start-Up Ecosystems: Common and Inherited Attributes," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 10(4), pages 1765-1783, December.
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    10. Jeandri Robertson, 2020. "Competition in Knowledge Ecosystems: A Theory Elaboration Approach Using a Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-19, September.

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