Knowledge search and firm innovation: the roles of knowledge inertia and knowledge integration capability

ABSTRACT

Based on the knowledge-based view (KBV), we investigate how and under what conditions knowledge search, including problemistic and slack searches, affects radical and incremental innovation. Using a data set composed of 247 Chinese firms, this study finds that slack search promotes radical and incremental innovation directly while problemistic search can positively affect radical and incremental innovation by the mediating role of knowledge integration capability (KIC). In addition, learning inertia strengthens the positive effect of problemistic search on KIC. This paper primarily contributes to innovation literature by clarifying and verifying how problemistic and slack searches affect radical and incremental innovation from the combined perspective of knowledge inertia and KIC. It also creates a foundation for further empirical investigation by explaining why existing studies have different views on the impacts of knowledge search on firm innovation.

KEYWORDS:

• Knowledge search
• innovation
• knowledge inertia
• knowledge integration capability

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Declarations of interest

none

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China: [Grant Number 72174058]; Graduate Research and Innovation Projects of Hunan Province [Grant Number CX20190328,CX20200457].

Notes on contributors

Ao Zan

Ao Zan received the bachelor's degree in mathematics from Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, China, in 2015. She is currently working toward the doctoral degree in management with the Business School, Hunan University. Her major is technology economy and innovation management. Her research focuses on big data, knowledge management, and innovation.

Yanhong Yao

Yanhong Yao received the bachelor's degree in philosophy from Renmin University of China, Beijing, China, in 1984, and the Ph.D. degree in management from Hunan University, Changsha, China, in 2005. She is a Professor in the Business Administration Department at Hunan University, Changsha, China, where she served successively as head of the department of business administration and human resources. Moreover, she visited the University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia, from 2005 to 2006. Her research interests include knowledge and innovation management, organizational behavior and employee innovation.

Huanhuan Chen

Huanhuan Chen received the bachelor's degree in marketing from Hunan University, Changsha, China, in 2015. She is currently working toward the doctoral degree in management with the Business School, Hunan University. Her major is technology economy and innovation management. Her research focuses on competition and cooperation, knowledge management, and innovation.