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Improving Innovation Capabilities By Cooperation: Examining Effects Of Core Network Management Functions And Relational Mechanisms In The Industrial Goods Sector

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  • BENJAMIN WEBER

    (HTW Saar, University of Applied Sciences, Goebenstraße 40, 66117 Saarbrücken, Germany)

  • SVEN HEIDENREICH

    (Faculty of Law and Economics, Saarland University P.O. 151150, 66041 Saarbrücken, Germany)

Abstract

For companies, cooperation represents a way to innovate more effectively. Within this respect, past literature stresses the importance of core network management functions and relational mechanisms for the effectiveness of interorganisational cooperation. However, it is still unclear whether and how core network management functions and relational mechanisms improve a firm’s innovation capability from interorganisational cooperation. Based on data of 154 industrial companies, the results from structural equation modelling provide evidence that core network management functions significantly enhance innovation capability improvement of individual firms by interorganisational cooperation. Furthermore, both formal and informal relational mechanisms partially mediate the impact of core network management functions on innovation capability improvement. With regard to informal relational mechanisms, companies should foster trust, guarantee equal power distribution and ascribe high importance to their cooperation. With regard to formal relational mechanisms, companies should provide organisational support to their cooperation, continuously share knowledge with their partners and also meet and communicate on regular basis.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin Weber & Sven Heidenreich, 2016. "Improving Innovation Capabilities By Cooperation: Examining Effects Of Core Network Management Functions And Relational Mechanisms In The Industrial Goods Sector," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 20(07), pages 1-29, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:ijimxx:v:20:y:2016:i:07:n:s1363919616500742
    DOI: 10.1142/S1363919616500742
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    2. Dev K. Dutta & Mary Beth Rousseau, 2019. "Alliance Experience, Industry Conditions, And External Technology Commercialisation," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 24(01), pages 1-24, January.

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