The institutional framework of inter- and intra-organizational transferred knowledge applying

Abstract

Firms’ applying of the inter- and intra-organizational knowledge transfers is critical for product innovation in emerging economies. Based on the institutional theory, this research examines the contingencies of firms’ inter- and intra- organizational transferred knowledge applying across different types of firms and geographic regions. The empirical results generally confirmed the proposed research hypotheses, supporting the proposition that the positive effect of firms’ inter- and intra- organizational knowledge transfers on product innovation is stronger in developed region. Moreover, comparing with privately owned enterprises and state-owned enterprises, foreign invested enterprises would benefit more from intra-organizational knowledge transfer and benefit less from inter-organizational knowledge transfer.