All publication are peer-review
Peer review will take the from of double-blind review Judge objectively and impartially
There is no conflict of interest for the reviewer
Review articles shall be kept strictly confidential prior to publication

Theories and Methods of Science of Science

The Influence of Cooperation Network Structure Embeddedness  on Exploratory Innovation Performance: The Perspective of  Knowledge Combination Ability 

Xiao Jiuling, Zhao Yaning

(School of Business, Nanjing Audit University, Nanjing 211815, China）

Abstract: The network embedding theory holds that the behavior of enterprises will be af⁃ fected by the characteristics of the network structure, and the level of the structural embedded⁃ ness of enterprises in the network reflects the importance level of the network position occupied  by enterprises in the network. Enterprises occupying a key position in the network will obtain  more network resources and carry out the self-development of enterprises. According to the  theory of dual organization, the learning styles of enterprises are divided into exploitative learn⁃ ing and exploratory learning, and the innovation activities of enterprises are divided into exploit⁃ ative innovation and exploratory innovation. Among them, exploratory learning means that enter⁃ prises break away from the original technical track, seek new technical knowledge, and help en⁃ terprises realize exploratory innovation. The knowledge-based view holds that the knowledge  base of an enterprise is an important cornerstone of its development, and an enterprise should  conduct an overall evaluation of its own knowledge base, pay attention to its future restructuring  potential, and combine the external knowledge search of the enterprise to finally realize explor⁃ atory innovation. Many scholars have studied the influence of network embedding on exploratory  innovation and the influence of knowledge based on exploratory innovation, but few scholars  have put internal knowledge combination capability and external knowledge search in a research  framework. This paper studies the influence of network structural embedding on exploratory inno⁃ vation through external knowledge search from the perspective of knowledge combination capa⁃ bility. A moderated mediator model is constructed to examine the mediating effect of external  knowledge search between network structural embedding and exploratory innovation and the  moderating effect of knowledge combination ability on external knowledge search and explor⁃ atory innovation. In this study, patent data from the new energy automobile industry were se⁃ lected as research samples, and patent data from 2016 to 2022 were selected after screening. First, four window periods were constructed with a three-year window period. During each win⁃ dow period, joint patent applications were used to build a cooperation network, and IPC was used  to build a knowledge network. Network indicators were calculated to measure some variables  used in this study, and then enterprises in the network were matched with firms' exploratory in⁃ novation, and finally sample data with sample observation value of 424 was obtained. Finally, negative binomial regression was used to test the constructed model, and the results showed that  the structural embedding of cooperative networks had a significant positive impact on exploratory  innovation performance. External knowledge search plays a completely mediating role between  cooperative network structural embedding and exploratory innovation, and knowledge combina⁃ tion ability positively moderates the influence of external knowledge search on exploratory inno⁃ vation performance. The theoretical contributions of this study are mainly in the following as⁃ pects: Firstly, it enriches the theoretical research of network embedding on innovation perfor⁃mance, constructs a novel research framework, and provides new ideas for the research of the im⁃ pact of network embedding on innovation performance. Secondly, this study takes external knowl⁃ edge search as a bridge between network structural embedding and exploratory innovation perfor⁃ mance, which enriches the research on the influence mechanism of network embedding on ex⁃ ploratory innovation performance. Finally, based on the perspective of knowledge combination  ability, this study measures knowledge combination ability, and the results prove that knowledge  combination ability has a positive moderating effect on the influence of network embedding on  exploratory innovation performance. By possibility of combining of knowledge elements of an en⁃ terprise with exploratory innovation performance, the influence of knowledge base on innovation  performance of an enterprise is enriched. In addition, this study also provides management en⁃ lightenment for innovative enterprises to help enterprises effectively carry out innovation activi⁃ ties. First, enterprises should choose the appropriate network location in the network according  to their own innovation strategic goals, use network resources, and obtain a good innovation envi⁃ ronment. Second, the knowledge base is very important for enterprise innovation activities. Enter⁃ prises should clearly understand the characteristics of knowledge base combination, discover  their development ability, selectively search for external knowledge, effectively recombine exter⁃ nal novel technical knowledge with their own knowledge base, and realize exploratory innovation. 

Key words: network structure embeddedness; knowledge network; external knowledge search; knowledge combination ability; exploratory innovation