The impacts of network structures and network form on corporate innovative performance: evidence from high-tech sectors

Abstract

Based on a survey from high-tech organizations in China, we empirically examine relationships among innovative network structures, network form, and organization performance. Our findings show that there are significant positive relationships among network sizes, network strength, network openness, network forms and organization performance. However, empirical results further show that network homogeneity does not reveal any significant impacts on organization performance. Our findings also identify theoretical and practical implications of innovative network research, in particular, the usefulness of innovative network structure.

Keywords:

• network structure
• network homogeneity
• network form
• innovation performance
• high-tech sectors

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank two anonymous referees for very helpful suggestions that substantially improved this article.

Funding

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number: 71002053, 71472118, 71025006, 71390525], and ‘Shu Guang’ project was supported by Shanghai Municipal Education Commission and Shanghai Education Development Foundation [grant number: 13SG41].

Notes

1. Source: Yangtze Delta Statistical Yearbook (2011).

2. According to the “Yangtze River Delta Planning Scheme” issued by the National Development and Reform Commission, Yangtze River Delta includes 16 cities, viz., Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuxi, Changzhou, Yangzhou, Zhenjiang, Nantong, Taizhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Huzhou, Jiaxing, Zhoushan, Shaoxing, and Taizhou.