Feng Zhang, Chongchong Lyu and Lei Zhu
Empirical results remain unclear as to whether organizational unlearning can improve radical innovation performance. The purpose of this study is to investigate how, and under…
Abstract
Purpose
Empirical results remain unclear as to whether organizational unlearning can improve radical innovation performance. The purpose of this study is to investigate how, and under which conditions, organizational unlearning influences firms’ radical innovation performance.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing on the knowledge-based view, this study develops a theoretical model that hypothesizes a positive relationship between organizational unlearning and radical innovation performance, which is mediated by knowledge generation strategies. It also proposes that the impact of unlearning on knowledge generation strategies will be moderated by dysfunctional competition. Using survey data from 191 Chinese manufacturing firms, the hierarchical regressions were used to test the hypotheses.
Findings
The empirical results show that organizational unlearning not only impacts radical innovation performance directly, but also indirectly affects radical innovation performance through two distinct types of knowledge generation strategies: (internal) knowledge creation and (external) information searching. Moreover, dysfunctional competition plays a dual role, strengthening the positive relationship between organizational unlearning and information search and weakening the positive relationship between organizational unlearning and knowledge creation.
Research limitations/implications
The present research broadens the understanding of how to promote radical innovation performance, which has great potential to improve the performance of firms on the market. Specifically, it deepens the knowledge of how organizational unlearning facilitates radical innovation performance by focusing on two distinct types of knowledge generation strategies as the crucial links, and enriches existing literature on the effectiveness of organizational unlearning in a dysfunctional competitive environment.
Practical implications
Practicing organizational unlearning for firms’ long-term success requires firms to develop and implement appropriate knowledge generation strategies in accordance with the characteristics of market competition in their operating environment.
Originality/value
This study offers new insights into how and under what conditions organizational unlearning affects radical innovation performance, enhancing the understanding of how organizational unlearning can be implemented to drive firm radical innovation.
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Yaqun Yi, Jing Ji and Chongchong Lyu
This paper aims to investigate the impact of exploratory innovation on the quality of new product development (NPD), and how do polychronicity of the top management team (TMT) and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the impact of exploratory innovation on the quality of new product development (NPD), and how do polychronicity of the top management team (TMT) and interfunctional coordination (IFC) moderate the above relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
The hypotheses were tested by the survey data of 210 Chinese enterprises. Hierarchical regression analyzes were used to test the hypotheses in this research.
Findings
The results indicate that exploratory innovation facilitates NPD quality. TMT polychronicity weakens the effect of exploratory innovation on NPD quality. IFC strengthens the effect of exploratory innovation on NPD quality.
Practical implications
This study provides managers with insight on the relationship between exploratory innovation and NPD quality. To improve NPD quality, managers should be paying more attention to exploratory innovation. Furthermore, this study helps managers to understand how the relationship changes with the increases of TMT polychronicity and IFC.
Originality/value
This study highlights the value of exploratory innovation in increasing NPD quality based on the knowledge-based view. By incorporating TMT polychronicity and IFC based on the attention-based view, it offers much richer understandings of how exploratory innovation affects NPD quality.
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Feng Zhang, Lei Zhu and Chongchong Lyu
A firm's geographic boundaries represent an important demarcation line when searching for new knowledge. Prior research on geographic search has generated conflicting results…
Abstract
Purpose
A firm's geographic boundaries represent an important demarcation line when searching for new knowledge. Prior research on geographic search has generated conflicting results concerning its influence on firm innovation outcomes. The purpose of this study is to fill the gap by examining how and under which conditions geographic search affects firm radical innovation performance.
Design/methodology/approach
This study hypothesizes a positive association between a firm's geographic search and radical innovation performance, which is mediated by potential absorptive capacity (PAC). It further proposes that the influence of geographic search on PAC will be moderated by a firm's collaborative network. Drawing on a random sample of 286 Chinese manufacturing firms, the theoretical model is tested.
Findings
The study's results show a positive relationship between geographic search and radical innovation performance, which is partially mediated by PAC. Moreover, attributes of collaborative networks (i.e. diverse location of and strong relational ties with partners) are observed to enhance the positive effect of geographic search on PAC.
Originality/value
This paper advances the understanding of how and when firms can better capture the benefits of geographic search in the development of radical innovation.
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Shunbin Zhong, Xiaohua Shen, Weiteng Shen and Chongchong Xin
Utilizing data from the 2017 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS2017), the paper aims to investigate the impact of information and communication technology (ICT) adoption on…
Abstract
Purpose
Utilizing data from the 2017 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS2017), the paper aims to investigate the impact of information and communication technology (ICT) adoption on residents' self-rated health and reveals the mechanisms behind ICT.
Design/methodology/approach
In the study, ICT adoption is defined as a dummy variable, which takes the value of one if respondents adopt the computers or mobile phone. Meanwhile, respondents' perceptions on five categories of self-rated health are used to construct the dependent variable. Then, based on a fixed-effects regression model, the ordinary least squares (OLS) and ordered probit approaches are applied to estimate their association. Moreover, the two-stage least squares (2SLS) and instrumental variable (IV)-oprobit methods are used to tackle the potential endogeneity of ICT adoption. Finally, the heterogeneity across individuals and regions as well as the underlying mechanisms are discussed.
Findings
The results indicate that ICT adoption significantly improves residents' self-rated health, which confirms the health utility model with ICT adoption. The conclusion is robust after overcoming the endogeneity issues with IV. In addition, heterogeneity analysis shows that ICT adoption is more beneficial to the health of residents who are male, young, better educated and those who live in the rural areas and in central and western China. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that ICT adoption for searching health-related information and improving social capital are two crucial mechanisms underlying its health effects.
Practical implications
The findings of this research can help Chinese Government improve population health by issuing corresponding digital and health policies at the regional and individual level.
Originality/value
First, the study provides fresh microscopic evidence on health outcomes of ICT adoption based on data from the latest wave of CGSS2017. Second, individual and regional heterogeneity is extensively discussed in contrast to most related macro studies that consider average effects. Third, the study addresses underlying mechanisms that have not been thoroughly tested or studied primarily on a theoretical level.