Bismark, D; Melagoda, D G and Rowlinson, S (2024) Innovation ambidexterity in construction firms: External knowledge antecedents and performance consequences. Construction Management and Economics, 42(6), pp. 503-526. ISSN 01446193
Abstract
Empirical evidence on the external knowledge search behaviour of construction firms and its effects on innovation ambidexterity (IA) and performance is limited. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of external knowledge sources on IA and the mediating role of IA in the relationship between external knowledge sources and financial performance (FP) in construction firms. It tests the hypotheses developed using survey responses from management personnel in Hong Kong construction firms. The results indicate that knowledge from clients or suppliers has a significant effect on IA. Similarly, knowledge sourced from universities and research institutions has a significant positive impact on IA. However, only knowledge from clients directly affects FP. IA fully mediates the relationships between knowledge from clients, suppliers or universities and research institutions with FP but not the other three sources. While partly validating some existing studies, these findings also extend the current knowledge on the connection between external knowledge sources and IA. This shows how IA can translate external knowledge into financial outcomes, revealing the value of different knowledge sources for firms. The findings provide insights into how construction firms can direct their knowledge searches to enhance ambidexterity and financial outcomes. This study showed the importance of external collaborators for construction firms in achieving IA and FP. It contributes to the theory and practice on the antecedents and outcomes of IA in construction firms and the path-dependent processes to enhance FP through the use of external knowledge to simultaneously pursue exploratory and exploitative innovation.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | ambidexterity; construction firms; external knowledge; financial performance; open innovation |
| Index terms: | evidence, survey, Hong Kong, financial performance, construction firm, personnel, ambidexterity, research institution |
| Subjects: | strategic management, Geography, business analysis, organization, data collection methods, research management, management, evaluation and assessment methods |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Human Resources, Geographical Context, Business Strategy |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here