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Dissertation_Ting Xiao.pdf (9.9 MB)

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Highlighting the Role of Knowledge Linkages in Knowledge Recombination

Xiao, Ting
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1437603445

Abstract Details

2015, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Business Administration.
Innovation comes about through manipulation of knowledge components as well as the linkages of these components by firms. Prior research has concentrated primarily on how adding of new knowledge components to those already known to the firm gives rise to innovation, but little attention has been devoted to the role of linkages in this regard. Thus, the literature lacks a systematic explanation for how variations in linkages between components influence innovation outcomes. The purpose of this dissertation is to help address this problem. In this research, I conceptualize knowledge linkages as a reflection of the organizational routines that motivate the integration of individual knowledge components, and in doing so, enrich their joint meaning and function. That is, disparate and organizationally dispersed knowledge components can only be linked through the institution of appropriate routines. Drawing on this argument of linkages as reflections of routines, I highlight how changes in two key characteristics of linkages—extent and local embeddedness—influence subsequent innovation novelty and use in three differing types of knowledge recombination that involve, from a previous innovation to a subsequent one (a) no change in components, (b) adding of new knowledge components, and (c) subtracting of components. I hypothesize that, in each case, change in linkages will play a major and systematic role in influencing the novelty and use of the resulting innovation. I use detailed pharmaceutical industry patent data from 1976 to 2014 to empirically test the hypothesized relationships. The findings demonstrate that linkages play an essential role in innovation, largely in the manner hypothesized. In doing so, this research uncovers a key feature of knowledge recombination that furthers our understanding of how innovation actually comes about and is utilized by firms.
Jay Anand (Committee Co-Chair)
Mona Makhija (Committee Co-Chair)
180 p.
Business Administration

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Citations

  • Xiao, T. (2015). Highlighting the Role of Knowledge Linkages in Knowledge Recombination [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1437603445

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Xiao, Ting. Highlighting the Role of Knowledge Linkages in Knowledge Recombination. 2015. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1437603445.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Xiao, Ting. "Highlighting the Role of Knowledge Linkages in Knowledge Recombination." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1437603445

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1437603445
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.