External Knowledge Sourcing for Innovation: Its Impact and the Influence of Moderating Factors

As competition has become more and more knowledge-based and as developing the most appropriate knowledge internally might often take too long to allow for timely actions, many firms have begun to source external knowledge in order to facilitate innovation. However, not all firms benefit equally from external knowledge sourcing for innovation (EKS). Indeed, the performance implications of engaging in EKS vary substantially across firms with some profiting enormously from it and others even experiencing an adverse effect. So far, the reasons for this considerable inter-firm heterogeneity are poorly understood.

The proposed research project intends to address this puzzle. It examines the role of specific factors that the literature has suggested as potential reasons for such differences in the performance implications of conducting EKS. It follows the recommendation to collect novel survey data to gain intimate insights into the internal sphere of the firm in general and into the focal factors in particular. To avoid common method variance/single respondent bias, it will match secondary (archival) data to the survey responses. It will develop theoretical models that will enhance our understanding of the respective factor, its influence, and the implications of EKS. These theoretical models will be tested by appropriate advanced regression and structural equation models.

Through this theoretical and empirical work, the proposed research project intends to help overcome observed knowledge gaps, empirical inconsistencies and theoretical ambiguities. In so doing, it can make multiple contributions to several streams in the academic literature as well as to management education and practice.