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

Openness and technological innovation: the moderating effect of information technology adoption and political ties

Hao Jiao (Business School, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China)
Jifeng Yang (Business School, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China)
Cheng Jiang (Graduate School of Education, Peking University, Beijing, China)
Jiawei Yu (Economics and Management School, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China)

International Journal of Emerging Markets

ISSN: 1746-8809

Article publication date: 24 December 2021

Issue publication date: 21 November 2023

554

Abstract

Purpose

This research helps firms pursue an open innovation strategy but want to minimize competitive pressure from other external entities. A theoretical framework is constructed to analyze the impact of openness on innovation performance, exploring different effect of firms' external search channels.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper employs a stepwise hierarchical regression approach to assess the effect of openness on technological innovation considering the role of information technology adoption and political ties. The effect is conducted using a large-scale sample of 1,073 Chinese manufacturing firms over the period 2011–2013 as empirical research objects.

Findings

There are two stages of the open technological innovation process while the information technology (IT) adoption and political ties are the key consideration in emerging markets. Openness is curvilinearly (taking an inverted U-shape) related to innovation performance. Both information technology adoption and political ties generally help firms to turn broadly sourced external knowledge into technological innovation performance. This will stimulate “one plus one is greater than two” effect not only in the process of achieving performance goals, but also in the process of technological innovation.

Originality/value

This quantitative research illustrates the importance relationship between firms' open behaviors and technological innovation performance in emerging markets. It helps us understand firms' current constrains of open strategy of technological innovation and helps domestic or foreign investors to make strategic collaboration choices in emerging economies according to the degree of openness, informatization level, political connections, which is equally important for research and practice.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors are indebted to Prof. Ilan Alon and anonymous reviewers for their many constructive insights and suggestions. The research was supported by the Major Project of National Social Science Foundation of China (21&ZD139) and Excellent Youth Science Fund in National Natural Science Foundation of China (72022005).

Citation

Jiao, H., Yang, J., Jiang, C. and Yu, J. (2023), "Openness and technological innovation: the moderating effect of information technology adoption and political ties", International Journal of Emerging Markets, Vol. 18 No. 10, pp. 4037-4063. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOEM-12-2020-1547

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles