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Article
How Does Technological Diversity in Supplier Network Drive Buyer Innovation? Relational Process and Contingencies
Journal of Operations Management (2015)
  • Gerald Yong Gao
  • En Xie, Xi'an Jiaotong University
  • Kevin Zheng Zhou, University of Hong Kong
Abstract
External networks provide important knowledge sources of innovation for firms. Drawing on social network theory, this study examines how technological diversity in supplier network influences a focal buyer firm's innovation. The results from a survey of 202 Chinese manufacturing firms and their supplier networks reveal that novel information sharing partially mediates the effect of technological diversity in supplier network on buyer firms’ new product creativity. The positive effect of technological diversity is enhanced by buyer–supplier relational strength but inhibited by supplier network density; competitive intensity positively moderates this effect, and technological turbulence negatively moderates it. These findings provide novel insights into how buyer firms can use their supplier networks to enhance product innovation.
Disciplines
Publication Date
May, 2015
DOI
10.1016/j.jom.2014.06.001
Citation Information
Gerald Yong Gao, En Xie and Kevin Zheng Zhou. "How Does Technological Diversity in Supplier Network Drive Buyer Innovation? Relational Process and Contingencies" Journal of Operations Management Vol. 36 (2015) p. 165 - 177
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/yong-gao/4/