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PurposeWhile the significance of organizational resources and capabilities is widely discussed, little is known about their interrelationships as well as benefits for firms that are involved in coopetitive relationships. Against this backdrop, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the performance effects of entrepreneurial orientation, strategic intent and potential absorptive capacity as well as their complementarity effects on operational and innovation performance for firms involved in horizontal coopetitive relationships.Design/methodology/approachDrawing upon the resource-based-view, dynamic capabilities and the relational view theories, this study forwards numerous hypotheses between the constructs of interest. The proposed hypotheses are tested utilizing survey data collected from 313 horizontal coopetitive relationships.FindingsThe results clearly suggest that entrepreneurial orientation, strategic intent and potential absorptive capacity could positively impact innovation and operational performance outcomes independently. In addition, the authors also find strategic intent and potential absorptive capacity to have differential moderating effects on the relationships between entrepreneurial orientation and the performance outcomes.Originality/valueThe findings suggest that although strategic intent and potential absorptive capacity could lead to performance benefits independently, when it comes to coopetitive relationships, the use of both these capabilities may not substantially increase the positive impact of entrepreneurial orientation on performance outcomes. Specifically, given that these capabilities could intensify competitiveness as well as hostility between partners, they seem to affect the firm's performance differently.

Purpose In spite of the increased attention on knowledge management processes as important variables for firms to generate performance benefits within supply chain literature, little is known about how these variables could impact offshoring innovation (OI) relationships held by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Considering their growing importance, this study aims to investigate the interplay between the internal knowledge creation capability, absorptive capacity and formal knowledge routines in attaining OI performance benefits for SMEs. Design/methodology/approach Grounded in the knowledge-based view theory, this study forwards various hypotheses between the variables of interests. The authors test the hypotheses using survey data collected from 200 European SMEs that engage in offshore supplier relationships. Findings The findings suggest that internal knowledge creation capability is positively associated to absorptive capacity. Not only is absorptive capacity positively associated to OI performance outcomes but it also positively mediates the effect of internal knowledge creation capability on OI performance. Additionally, formal knowledge-sharing routines negatively moderate the relationship between absorptive capacity and OI performance. Originality/value This study contributes to the supply chain as well as SMEs innovation literature by empirically showing that through enhanced internal knowledge creation capability, absorptive capacity goes beyond merely accessing and assimilating the supplier’s knowledge to achieve innovation gains. The results suggest that to succeed in gaining knowledge and subsequent performance benefits within OI, it is essential for SMEs to create and retain knowledge internally.

PurposeWhile the performance benefits of relational resources and managerial ambidexterity have been widely discussed in coopetition literature, there is only limited evidence that illustrates the underlying relationships between these relational resources and managerial ambidexterity. Against this background, this paper aims to investigate how managerial ambidexterity moderates the innovation ambidexterity effects of relational resources (i.e. reciprocal investments and complementary resources).Design/methodology/approachThis study forwards various hypotheses that are grounded within the theoretical tenets of the relational view and the dynamic capabilities perspective. To test the hypotheses, this study uses survey data provided by 313 firms that pursue horizontal coopetition relationships.FindingsThe research findings offer important insights in that while reciprocal investments lead to innovation ambidexterity, complementary resources do not result in such benefits. Additionally, managerial ambidexterity complements the relational resources to develop innovation ambidexterity if and only if both managerial exploration and exploitation are applied simultaneously.Originality/valueAs opposed to widely-held beliefs, this study finds that firms' use of complementary resources is not likely to lead to innovation ambidexterity even though such resources can help in developing strong relationships. In addition, although often overlooked, managerial ambidexterity plays a vital role in transforming relational resources into useful innovations for firms involved in coopetition relationships. It is crucial for firms that their managers balance their ambidextrous activities of exploration and exploitation so as to develop innovation ambidexterity.