To read this content please select one of the options below:

SMEs innovating in collaborative networks: how does absorptive capacity matter for innovation performance in times of good partnership quality?

Lamiae Benhayoun (Institut Mines-Télécom Business School, Université Paris-Saclay, Evry, France)
Néstor Fabián Ayala (Department of Industrial Engineering, Universidade Federal do rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil)
Marie-Anne Le Dain (Grenoble INP, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France)

Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management

ISSN: 1741-038X

Article publication date: 25 May 2021

Issue publication date: 20 October 2021

677

Abstract

Purpose

We investigate the impact of Absorptive Capacity (ACAP) for SMEs embedded in Collaborative Networks (CNs) on innovation performance, considering the network stages and the influence of partnership quality.

Design/methodology/approach

We use a mixed methodology consisting of a qualitative than a quantitative phase. The first stage relies on an in-depth literature review and 22 interviews with 17 manufacturing SMEs having operated in collaborative innovation projects to characterize the potential and realized ACAP of such SMEs in the creation and operation stages of a CN. The second phase aims at testing four hypotheses through a hierarchical regression based on 74 responses to a survey involving SMEs with prior CN experience.

Findings

Our results explain how an SME’s ACAP in the creation stage affects its ACAP in the operation stage. We also demonstrate that this latter capability contributes positively to innovation performance in the CN. Furthermore, partnership quality was found to have counterproductive effects regarding potential ACAP.

Practical implications

We provide manufacturing SMEs with guidance to deploy ACAP throughout their collaborative experience and overcome the potential pitfalls of good partnership quality.

Originality/value

We operationalize ACAP of manufacturing SMEs to contribute to mutual innovation goals in CNs and uncover its properties. We explain how this dynamic capability accumulates over the CN stages to result in higher innovation performance and show how it helps in striking a balance between the “dark” and “virtuous” sides of partnership quality.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Funding: French National Research Agency (ANR). Project ID: ANR-14-CE29-0015.

Citation

Benhayoun, L., Ayala, N.F. and Le Dain, M.-A. (2021), "SMEs innovating in collaborative networks: how does absorptive capacity matter for innovation performance in times of good partnership quality?", Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, Vol. 32 No. 8, pp. 1578-1598. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMTM-11-2020-0439

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles