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Learning through observation or through acquisition? Innovation performance as an outcome of internal and external knowledge combination

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Abstract

Although the importance of external and internal knowledge combination for innovation is well recognized, the effectiveness of different patterns of combination requires further investigation. We consider spillovers of foreign direct investment (FDI) and external research and development (R&D) as two sources of external knowledge to domestic firms and argue that the effectiveness of incorporating the two external sources of knowledge varies conditional upon different levels of internal knowledge development (internal R&D). We argue that learning through observation and learning through acquisition are important mechanisms making such difference. Using a sample of manufacturing firms in China from 2002 to 2007, we find that rhythmic FDI spillover and external R&D positively affect innovation performance. However, the effect of rhythmic FDI spillover is stronger, whereas the effect of external R&D is weaker for firms with a moderate level of internal R&D than firms with a low or high level of internal R&D.

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Notes

  1. We conducted F tests for the variables of interest, that is, the main effects here and the interaction terms for all subsequent regressions. The results indicate that all variables are significant at the 0.01 level.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Goodman School of Business, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada

    Marshall S. Jiang

  2. School of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University, Haidian, Beijing, 100084, China

    Jie Jiao

  3. Management School, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou, China

    Zhouyu Lin

  4. Jindal School of Management, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA

    Jun Xia

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Jiang, M.S., Jiao, J., Lin, Z. et al. Learning through observation or through acquisition? Innovation performance as an outcome of internal and external knowledge combination. Asia Pac J Manag 38, 35–63 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10490-018-9592-x

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