Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OPERATIONS & PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT
Volume 42, Issue 10, Pages 1630-1652Publisher
EMERALD GROUP PUBLISHING LTD
DOI: 10.1108/IJOPM-12-2021-0747
Keywords
R&D investment; Absorptive capacity; Firm innovativeness; Dysfunctional competition
Categories
Funding
- Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation, China [2020A1515111022, 2021A1515011833]
- National Natural Science Foundation of China [U1901222, 72034002]
- CEIBS-ZKH center for innovations in supply chain and services
- CEIBS
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This study proposes a research model that connects R&D investment, supply chain absorptive capacity (AC) from different partners, and firm innovativeness. The authors empirically examine the relationships using data from 262 manufacturers in China. The findings demonstrate the significant mediating roles of AC from customers and university and research institutes in the link between R&D investment and firm innovativeness. The study also reveals that under high levels of dysfunctional competition, R&D investment has a significantly greater effect on AC from university and research institutes.
Purpose Drawing upon relative absorptive capacity (AC) perspective, this study proposes a research model connecting R&D investment, three types of supply chain AC-AC from suppliers, customers and university and research institutes (U&RIs)-and firm innovativeness and investigates the contingent effects of dysfunctional competition on the link between R&D investment and supply chain AC. Design/methodology/approach The authors used data collected from 262 manufacturers in three areas of China to empirically examine the conceptual model. The corresponding hypotheses were tested with structural equation modeling and regression analysis. Findings The empirical results demonstrate that AC from customers and AC from U&RIs play significant mediating roles in the relationship between R&D investment and firm innovativeness. Moreover, R&D investment has a significantly greater effect on AC from U&RIs under high levels of dysfunctional competition. Originality/value First, by conceptualizing AC from a relative view, this study discloses the unique roles of knowledge from different supply chain partners in realizing the benefits of R&D investment in innovation. Second, the exploration of the contingent roles of dysfunctional competition in the emerging economy of China enriches insights on the roles of institutional environment on knowledge absorption and the knowledge on relative AC in emerging economies.
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