{"title":"Cross-Tier Supplier Collaboration on Buyer Firm Innovation Performance: The Moderating Role of Geographic Distance and Relationship Longevity","authors":"Ellie C. Falcone, Jordan M. Barker, Haozhe Chen","doi":"10.1111/jbl.70010","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>The supply base is increasingly recognized as a critical enabler of firm innovation. While existing research has linked direct collaboration with suppliers to superior innovation performance, it has largely overlooked the relational dynamics occurring further upstream in the supply chain. We introduce the concept of <i>cross-tier supplier collaboration</i>—strategic alliances between first- and lower-tier suppliers (i.e., suppliers' suppliers) within a focal firm's supply chain focused on sharing or co-developing resources—and explore how this not-so-visible collaboration serves as a source of superior innovation for the buyer firm. Drawing on the extended resource-based view (ERBV), we construct and analyze a large panel dataset compiled from multiple archival data sources of public manufacturers, their first-tier suppliers, and lower-tier suppliers. The empirical analysis reveals that cross-tier supplier collaboration enhances buyer firm performance in terms of innovation efficiency. This positive relationship is strengthened when first- and lower-tier suppliers have long-term relationships but is weakened when these suppliers are geographically distant from each other. This study and its discoveries make a valuable contribution to the theories and literature on extended supply base and firm innovation while also providing practical guidance for managerial sourcing decisions.</p>","PeriodicalId":48090,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Business Logistics","volume":"46 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jbl.70010","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Business Logistics","FirstCategoryId":"91","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jbl.70010","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"MANAGEMENT","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The supply base is increasingly recognized as a critical enabler of firm innovation. While existing research has linked direct collaboration with suppliers to superior innovation performance, it has largely overlooked the relational dynamics occurring further upstream in the supply chain. We introduce the concept of cross-tier supplier collaboration—strategic alliances between first- and lower-tier suppliers (i.e., suppliers' suppliers) within a focal firm's supply chain focused on sharing or co-developing resources—and explore how this not-so-visible collaboration serves as a source of superior innovation for the buyer firm. Drawing on the extended resource-based view (ERBV), we construct and analyze a large panel dataset compiled from multiple archival data sources of public manufacturers, their first-tier suppliers, and lower-tier suppliers. The empirical analysis reveals that cross-tier supplier collaboration enhances buyer firm performance in terms of innovation efficiency. This positive relationship is strengthened when first- and lower-tier suppliers have long-term relationships but is weakened when these suppliers are geographically distant from each other. This study and its discoveries make a valuable contribution to the theories and literature on extended supply base and firm innovation while also providing practical guidance for managerial sourcing decisions.
期刊介绍:
Supply chain management and logistics processes play a crucial role in the success of businesses, both in terms of operations, strategy, and finances. To gain a deep understanding of these processes, it is essential to explore academic literature such as The Journal of Business Logistics. This journal serves as a scholarly platform for sharing original ideas, research findings, and effective strategies in the field of logistics and supply chain management. By providing innovative insights and research-driven knowledge, it equips organizations with the necessary tools to navigate the ever-changing business environment.