The impact of buyer–supplier interaction on ambidextrous innovation and business performance: the moderating role of competitive environment
The International Journal of Logistics Management
ISSN: 0957-4093
Article publication date: 1 February 2021
Issue publication date: 29 April 2021
Abstract
Purpose
This study is based on knowledge-based view to examine the relationships among buyer–supplier interaction, ambidextrous innovation and business performance. It includes competitive intensity and dysfunctional competition to clarify boundary conditions.
Design/methodology/approach
The ordinary least squares regression was conducted to test hypotheses. The survey data were collected from 182 Hong Kong manufacturing firms.
Findings
Buyer–supplier interaction facilitates ambidextrous innovation, namely exploitative innovation and exploratory innovation. In turn, exploitative innovation enhances business performance, whereas exploratory innovation has no influence on business performance. Competitive intensity strengthens while dysfunctional competition weakens the impact of buyer–supplier interaction on ambidextrous innovation.
Research limitations/implications
This study is based on the knowing processes of knowledge-based view. It contends that business performance is derived from ambidextrous innovation, which depends on the utilization of acquired supplier knowledge and the influence of external competitive environment. The test of relationships is constrained by the single-source and cross-sectional data.
Practical implications
Firms should engage in buyer–supplier interaction to acquire and utilize supplier knowledge. Meanwhile, they should monitor competitive environment to seize opportunities and avoid threats.
Originality/value
This study builds a holistic framework for buyer–supplier interaction, which reconciles the mixed arguments by distinguishing its effects on ambidextrous innovation, and by clarifying boundary conditions in terms of competitive intensity and dysfunctional competition.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the Editors Britta Gammelgaard and Zach Zacharia, and all the anonymous reviewers for their insightful and constructive comments. This study was supported by the 2020 Education and Teaching Reform Project of Central University of Finance and Economics under Grant No. 2020ZXJG12, the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos 71302128, 71732006 and the National Social Science Foundation of China under Grant No. 19BGL096.
Citation
Wang, Y., Sun, H., Jia, T. and Chen, J. (2021), "The impact of buyer–supplier interaction on ambidextrous innovation and business performance: the moderating role of competitive environment", The International Journal of Logistics Management, Vol. 32 No. 2, pp. 673-695. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM-05-2019-0141
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited