Localization of Knowledge and the Mobility of Engineers in Regional Networks
Management Science
Recombinant Uncertainty in Technological Search
Management Science
Overcoming Local Search Through Alliances and Mobility
Management Science
Decision Support Systems - Special issue: Collaborative work and knowledge management
An integrated method for collaborative R&D project selection: Supporting innovative research teams
Expert Systems with Applications: An International Journal
Identification of promising patents for technology transfers using TRIZ evolution trends
Expert Systems with Applications: An International Journal
Hi-index | 12.05 |
In this paper, we suggest that flexible hiring and joint research and development are two ways to acquire outside knowledge resources, which facilitate inter-organizational knowledge sharing and enable firms to overcome the constraints of internalized knowledge search in their innovation processes. We conducted a survey of 182 firms in Xi'an, China, which indicates that the majority of the surveyed firms have realized the importance of acquiring outside knowledge resources, and they are adopting flexible hiring policy and joint R&D strategy to make good use of outside knowledge resources. We then explore whether the two ways facilitate cross-organizational knowledge acquisition and inter-organization knowledge sharing, and hence contribute to effective innovations. We find that flexible hiring and joint R&D are effective ways to employ outside knowledge resources. Moreover, the effectiveness of innovations increases with both ways. These findings show that organizations can acquire outside knowledge resources to improve their innovations through flexible hiring and joint R&D.