The Knowledge Spillover Theory of Entrepreneurship in Alliances

Abstract

We develop and examine a framework for the knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship in alliances. Our framework regards entrepreneurial opportunity as endogenous, and entrepreneurial firms as heterogeneous. The empirical findings show that partners' knowledge protection, which is regarded as a knowledge filter, can increase knowledge spillovers in an alliance. Moreover, this relationship is contingent on the strength of a focal firm's entrepreneurial orientation and on alliance type (equity joint venture versus nonequity joint venture). Results also reveal that knowledge spillovers in an alliance enhance alliance performance more significantly than they enhance firm performance.

Impact of Entrepreneurial Orientation on Strategic Alliances and the Role of Top Management

“…Particularly, the influence of EO on decision to enter an alliance is poorly studied (Teng, 2015;Journal of Business Venturing, 21, 2006). In addition, EO is a key concept to entrepreneurship and should be studied within the perspective of SAs (Bouncken et al, 2014;Brouthers et al, 2014;Franco & Haase, 2013;Jiang et al, 2014;Marino et al, 2002;Shu et al, 2014;Talebi et al, 2015;Teng, 2005).…”

“…Jiang, Yang, Pei, and Wang (2014) establish a parsimonious model that uses Miller's view to link alliance-partnering firms' EO to their performance by means of two knowledge management practices: knowledge acquisition from partners and knowledge creation within organizational boundaries. Shu, Liu, Gao, and Shanley (2014) established a framework for knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship in firm alliances. Talebi, Rezazadeh, and Najmabadi (2015) investigated the delivery of SME entrepreneurship promises through their performance in building alliances.…”

“…In sum, due to resource limitations, economy instability, and environmental uncertainties, many firms with an EO have SA as their best option to get access to financial capital, international expansion, resource basis, synergies, and to compete in the increasingly challenging environment of global economy. Therefore, the main goal of this article is to advance and contribute to the literature by looking into the multidimensional nature of the EO construct (Covin & Lumpkin, 2011;Lumpkin & Dess, 1996), thus generating a conceptual mechanism that can illustrate the impact of EO on SA and the role of TMT on the EO-SA relationship, thus bringing a new perspective into the EO literature (Brouthers et al, 2014;Franco & Haase, 2013;Marino et al, 2002;Menz, 2012;Teng, 2005;Shu et al, 2014). To achieve these goals, we chose a quantitative approach to the matter, using structural equation modeling in our analysis conducted in 2014, in order to answer the following questions: is there a relationship between EO's five dimensions and SA?…”

Asymmetric Information as a Barrier to Knowledge Spillovers in Expert Markets

“…Knowledge networks can offer an opportunity to reduce the impact of knowledge filters, which has only recently been addressed by a smaller number of studies discussing the role of networks as a transmission channel facilitating knowledge-based entrepreneurship (Hayter, 2013;Huggins et al, 2012;Huggins and Thompson, 2015;Shu et al, 2014). Integrating the role of networks in the KSTE thus offers the opportunity to more comprehensively explain successful entrepreneurial decisions (Hayter, 2013).…”

“…Integrating the role of networks in the KSTE thus offers the opportunity to more comprehensively explain successful entrepreneurial decisions (Hayter, 2013). The initial results are that knowledge spillovers in inter-firm networks improve the overall performance, with mixed effects on the individual firm level (Shu et al, 2014). However, network capital and its spatial distributionparticularly network relations between companies and other knowledge-producing institutions -account for regional differences in innovative capabilities (Huggins and Thompson, 2015).…”