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New ventures, product innovation and business intermediaries: Empirical analyses of 145 new Chinese ventures

Aiqi Wu (School of Management, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China)
Shengxiao Li (School of Business and Management, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, People’s Republic of China)
Huafeng Wang (School of Business and Management, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, People’s Republic of China)

Chinese Management Studies

ISSN: 1750-614X

Article publication date: 27 May 2014

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) intermediary ties on new ventures’ product innovation. Product innovation is a critical strategy for new ventures’ survival and growth. However, as a result of smallness and newness, new ventures usually face considerable difficulties in product innovation and require support to help their innovation search and innovation activities.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey of 145 Chinese new ventures is used to test presented hypotheses empirically.

Findings

This study finds that the intensity of KIBS intermediary ties has a positive influence on innovation, while the diversity of KIBS intermediary ties has no influence on new ventures’ product innovation. Moreover, the relationship between the intensity of KIBS intermediary ties and new ventures’ product innovation is moderated by the degree of their international venturing and ties with other firms.

Originality/value

This study enriches understanding of the important roles of KIBS intermediary ties on new ventures’ product innovation.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The present study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (70972089, 71132007 and 71272165) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities. Errors and omissions are solely the authors’ responsibility.

Citation

Wu, A., Li, S. and Wang, H. (2014), "New ventures, product innovation and business intermediaries: Empirical analyses of 145 new Chinese ventures", Chinese Management Studies, Vol. 8 No. 2, pp. 241-257. https://doi.org/10.1108/CMS-03-2014-0054

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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