An ambidexterity perspective toward configurations of knowledge flows: an empirical testing of its two-phase performance implications

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how knowledge inflows and outflows interact to affect performance outcomes. Though previous studies have dealt with knowledge inflows and outflows, the quality and quantity characteristics of knowledge are often not taken into account, thus leaving a research gap with regards to the effect of their interactions on performance outcomes. Design/methodology/approach Based on Poisson regression analysis, this quantitative study fills the aforementioned research gaps by analyzing the ambidextrous configurations of knowledge flows from an ambidexterity perspective and examines their effects on two-phase performance (i.e. regular season and playoffs), using a longitudinal data set of National Basketball Association transactions from the 2003-2004 to 2014-2015 season. Findings The results suggest that the complementarity between knowledge inflows and outflows along the quality and quantity dimensions of knowledge, respectively, has a positive impact on two-phase performance, while the imbalance between knowledge inflows and outflows under the quality and quantity dimensions of knowledge, respectively, has a negative impact on playoffs performance (Phase 2). These findings suggest that organizations can balance knowledge inflows and outflows under a single quality or quantity dimension of knowledge. Furthermore, the interaction between the quantity of the inflows of knowledge and the quality of the outflows of knowledge and the interaction between the quality of the inflows of knowledge and the quantity of the outflows of knowledge are both positively related to two-phase performance. These findings suggest that organizations can balance knowledge inflows and outflows across quality and quantity dimensions of knowledge. Finally, the effects of the interaction between knowledge inflows and outflows on playoffs performance are greater than regular-season. Practical implications Organizations should leverage ambidexterity to manage/balance knowledge inflows and outflows across quality and quantity dimensions, further enhancing performance outcomes. Originality/value This study, first, provides new insights into knowledge flows by distinguishing between the quality and quantity of knowledge, the inflows and outflows of knowledge, constructing ambidextrous configurations of knowledge flows from an ambidexterity perspective. Second, it contributes to the relationship between knowledge flows and organizational performance by revealing how ambidextrous configurations of knowledge flows exert different effects on performance outcomes. Third, it adds to the literature of ambidexterity-performance relationships and expands it to the context of sports.

Knowledge transfer and innovation in multinationals: a review of the literature using SCM-TBFO framework

“…Regression Alc acer and Zhao (2002), Awang et al (2013), , Choudhury and Kim (2019), Choo et al (2020), Colakoglu et al (2014), Frenz and Letto-Gillies (2009), G€ olgeci et al (2019), Gupta and Govindarajan (2000), Li et al (2018), Liu and Wang (2020), Liu et al (2019), Livanis and Lamin (2016), Mart ınez-Noya and Garc ıa-Canal (2018), Monteiro (2015), Perri and Andersson (2014), Perri et al (2017), Qin et al (2017), Reiche et al (2017), Sadowski and Sadowski-Rasters (2006), Singh (2007), Tseng (2015) Case study , Casson et al (2009), Dingler and Enkel (2016), Giuliani et al (2014), Hansen et al (2020), Larkin (2014), , Lopez-Vega and Tell (2021), Lupton and Beamish (2016), Mirvis et al (2016), Rios-Ballesteros and Fuerst ( 2022 Ho (2014), Inkpen et al (2019), Mudambi et al (2018), Mudambi (2002), Verbeke (2010)…”

“…In case of knowledge outflow, a firm loses its valuable knowledge; that enables the firm to acquire more valuable knowledge to compensate for such loss. However, through selectively revealing of knowledge, a firm can gain more knowledge inflow (Henkel et al, 2014;Liu and Wang, 2020). Knowledge complexity is developed by unique combination of the resources.…”

“…The widely reported outcomes of “knowledge transfer and innovation” influence the financial performance (Torres et al ., 2015; Mirvis et al ., 2016; Qin et al ., 2017; Liu and Wang, 2020). This result is confirmed by majority of the studies in the literature on knowledge transfer and innovation in multinationals.…”

“…It can facilitate the financial performance of a firm. For instance, the complementarity between quality and quantity of knowledge has a positive impact on the performance of the firm (Liu and Wang, 2020). The firm can plan and implement innovation on a continuous basis based on the acquired and assimilated knowledge that can generate financial benefits (such as ROS and ROA) overtime (Kostopoulos et al ., 2011).…”

Simulation research on knowledge flow in a collaborative innovation network

“…On the basis of the above‐mentioned scholars' research, domestic and foreign scholars have focused on knowledge types, characteristics, flow, transfer, and diffusion and refined the relevant content of related knowledge research. From the perspective of research objects, previous work considers knowledge transfer and technology diffusion between enterprises (Yang et al, 2021), knowledge flow in sports organizations (Liu & Wang, 2020), and knowledge transfer in education and teaching (Bae et al, 2020). From the perspective of research content, the research of scholars is the main influencing factor of knowledge flow.…”