Examining relationships between external linkages, absorptive capacity and gains in new product knowledge and impacts on new product innovativeness
Year: 2003
Type: dissertation
Abstract: This thesis investigates relationships between external linkages and new product\ninnovativenessf ocusing particularly on the perspectiveo f a knowledge-enabledv iew\nof new product development. Building on organisational learning theory and\nknowledge-basedth eorieso f inter-firm collaboration,t his thesis arguest hat the effects\nof external linkages on new product innovativeness vary and these are largely\ncontingent upon a finn's absorptive capacity. The finn's level of absorptive capacity\ndetermines how effectively knowledge from external collaborators relevant to the new\nproduct project is absorbed, resulting in the creation of new knowledge that the finn\ncan apply for its own commercial use. It considers why some firms are more effective\nthan others at absorbing new product related knowledge from external collaborators to\nfacilitate more innovative product development.\nBased on an empirical study of 116 new product development projects in\nTaiwanese Information Technology (IT) firms, the thesis assesses the relative\nimportance of external linkages in increasing new product innovativeness. The results\nshowt hat the impacto f horizontall inks (that is, collaborationw ith otherc ompanies,\nresearch institutes, and universities) on gains in new product related knowledge is\ngreater than that of vertical linkages (that is, supplier and customer involvement).\nCompared to links with customers, universities, and research institutes, corporate\nlinkages play the most prominent and consistent role in enhancing the accumulation\nof new product related knowledge. This knowledge namely pertains to\npredevelopmenat ssessmentR, &D, manufacturinga nd marketing. The thesis confirms\nthat the firm's absorptive capacity positively affects its gains in new product related\nknowledge. In addition, absorptive capacity's interactions with corporate linkages\nhave significant, positive effects on gains in new product related knowledge. However such interaction effects were not observed for the other external linkages, with\nexception of industry-based research institute linkage. Moreover, the results confinn\nthat the positive impacts of absorptive capacity, corporation linkages, and supplier\nlinkages on new product innovativeness are mediated by the extent of new product\nrelated knowledge gained.\nThis thesis bridges the gap between theories of organisational absorptive\ncapacity and the effective generation of new products. It contributes to our\nunderstanding of the role of a firm's absorptive capacity in NPD research. It examines\nthis issue from a knowledge-enabled view of new product development. The findings\nwill assist managers to more effectively formulate NPD strategy by incorporating\nfirms' internal learning capacity with the complementary knowledge and technology\nthat external collaborators can provide.
Author: Shih‐Tung Shu
Language: English
Subfield: Strategy and Management
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W16295255