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Constrained by Localized Attention Focus: The Negative Effect of Firm-Specific Knowledge on Exploratory Firm Innovation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 September 2023

Bilian Ni Sullivan ,
Kaixian Mao  and
Heli Wang
Bilian Ni Sullivan
Affiliation:
Department of Management, School of Business and Management, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China
Kaixian Mao*
Affiliation:
Department of Human Resource Management, School of Labor and Human Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
Heli Wang
Affiliation:
Lee Kong Chian School of Business, Singapore Management University, Singapore, Singapore
*
Corresponding author: Kaixian Mao (kxm@ruc.edu.cn)
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Abstract

Integrating the resource-based view (RBV) and attention-based view (ABV), this study explores the impact of firm-specific knowledge (FSK) on a firm's exploratory innovation and the role of government support in this process. We argue that firms with a high degree of specificity in their knowledge assets tend to have a more localized attention focus, leading to those firms with less exposure to distant and diverse information and knowledge. Consequently, such firms are likely to have reduced exploratory innovative outputs. However, government resource support could expand a firm's attention focus beyond local searches, mitigating its negative effects. Based on a unique combined two-wave survey and archival data from over 500 firms in China, we find that the level of FSK is negatively related to a firm's exploratory innovation output. We provide evidence that localized attention focus partially mediates the negative effect of FSK on firms’ exploratory innovation. We further reveal that state ownership and state financial support for firm innovation weaken the negative main effect. This study makes important contributions to the literatures on the RBV, FSK, and firm innovation.

摘要

摘要

本研究结合资源基础观（RBV）和注意力基础观（ABV），探讨了企业特定知识对企业探索性创新的影响以及政府支持在此过程中的作用。我们认为，在知识资产中具有高度特异性的企业往往有更多本地化的注意力，导致那些企业较少接触到远距离而多样化的信息和知识。因此，这类企业可能会减少探索性的创新产出。然而，政府的资源支持可以将企业的关注点扩大到本地搜索之外，这样就可以减轻负面效应。基于来自中国 500 多家企业的两轮问卷调查及二手数据，我们发现企业特定知识水平与企业的探索性创新产出呈负相关。我们提供的证据表明，本地化的注意力对上述关系有部分中介效应。我们进一步揭示，国企和政府对企业创新的财政支持削弱了前述负面影响。我们的研究发现能够对资源基础观、企业特定知识和企业创新的文献做出贡献。

Keywords

firm innovationfirm-specific knowledgegovernment financial support for firm innovationlocalized attentionstate ownership企业特定知识本地化注意力企业创新政府所有权政府对企业创新的财政支持
Type
Article
Information
Management and Organization Review , Volume 19 , Issue 6 , December 2023 , pp. 1104 - 1126
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of International Association for Chinese Management Research

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