Network Ties and Transactive Memory Systems: Leadership as an Enabler

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the relationship between network ties (NT) and transactive memory systems (TMS), observed through three dimensions – specialization (TMSS), credibility (TMSCR), and coordination (TMSCO) – in the presence of leadership (LDR) as a moderating variable, in university research-and-development (R&D) groups. Design/methodology/approach The data are composed of 257 university R&D groups. To confirm the hypotheses, the authors use multiple linear regression analysis with a moderating effect. Findings The conclusions show that the relationships between NT and two of the three dimensions of TMS (TMSCR and TMSCO) are significant when LDR is included as a moderating variable. Although the effect of TMSS is positive, it is not significant. Including the interaction element enables better explanation of two of the dimensions of TMS in the sector analyzed. Thus, LDR is perfectly applicable to the university R&D environment. Research limitations/implications This research has several limitations that suggest further possibilities for empirical research. The limitations include the cross-sectional nature of the research and the judgment of a single manager as the basis of the perception analyzed for each group. Practical implications The authors provide several implications for R&D practitioners. The results of this study could be validated in other universities in other geographic areas, enabling better generalization and applicability of the results. The results described may serve as a guide for group leaders of university R&D. This research helps us to see the importance of LDR in forming internal research networks that help researchers to perform common projects in order to obtain better results in the group. Thus, the groups provided better results to society. Originality/value No studies have tested the moderating effect of LDR in university R&D empirically. The results provide information to fill this gap and demonstrate the applicability of LDR as a key element in the organization, improvement, and cohesion of R&D groups

Impact of Social Media on the Firm’s Knowledge Exploration and Knowledge Exploitation: The Role of Business Analytics Talent

Social media is one of the most disruptive technologies in executing a firm’s digital business transformation strategies. Does the firm’s ability to use social media affect its proficiency in exploring and exploiting knowledge? What should be the role of business analytics talent in this equation? We study theoretically and empirically these cutting-edge research questions. Our proposed research model argues that social media capability enables the development of knowledge exploration and knowledge exploitation, and business analytics talent exerts a positive reinforcing role in the impact of social media on knowledge exploration. We empirically tested the proposed research model with a secondary dataset from a sample of US firms using PLS path modeling. After running a robustness test by estimating eight alternatives/competing models, the empirical analysis revealed that social media capability is positively related to knowledge exploration and knowledge exploitation, but with a stronger effect on knowledge exploration. Moreover, business analytics talent plays a positive moderator role in the relationship between social media capability and knowledge exploration. This study contributes to the IS research by (1) introducing, developing, and operationalizing the concepts of social media capability and business analytics talent; and (2) theoretically arguing and empirically showing the pivotal role of social media capability in exploring new knowledge and the complementary role of business analytics talent. Our study also provides several critical lessons learned for top executives and proposes promising future IS research avenues.European Regional Development Fund (European Union)Spanish Government ECO201784138-P FPU14/01930 FPU13/01643Junta de Andalucia A-SEJ-154-UGR18Endowed Chair of Digital Business Transformation at Rennes School of BusinessSlovenian Research Agency - Slovenia P5-041

Transactive Memory System and QM: Exploring Knowledge capacities

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study how transactive memory systems (TMS) facilitate the transfer and absorption of knowledge in the presence of quality management (QM) within a university research and development (R&D) environment. Design/methodology/approach – The data come from a simple random sampling of 257 Spanish university R&D groups in nine different areas of knowledge. To verify the hypotheses, the authors used multiple linear regression analysis with a moderating effect. Findings – The conclusions show that the relationship between knowledge transfer (KT) and TMS is significant when QM practices are included as a moderating variable but that this is not the case for knowledge absorption (KA), which does not show any effect. Research limitations/implications – The effects described were found in a sample composed of various R&D sectors taken from a single country and not distributed equally. Further, the perception analyzed represents the judgment of a single manager. Practical implications – It is interesting to study this interaction in university R&D because of the important role R&D plays in the development of regions. Improving the internal processes of this research helps to make its results more competitive. This study contributes information on non‐business management and introduces university R&D to the use of QM practices. Originality/value – The authors found no studies that test empirically the moderating effect of QM practices on the relationships studied in university R&D. The paper's results contribute information to help fill this gap and demonstrate once again that QM practices can be applied to any environment

Drivers for performance in innovative research groups: The mediating role of transactive memory system

This article contributes to research on transactive memory systems (TMSs) by analyzing the relationship between trust, collective mind (CM), and network ties (NT) as antecedents of performance in innovative university research (IUR), and the mediating role of the TMS in these relationships. The conceptual model grounded in seven hypotheses is tested through structural equations modeling. The data analyzed are drawn from 257 directors Spanish university research groups. The results show that TRUST, CM, and NT are positively related to the TMS and that the TMS is positively related to IUR. The most striking result is that the TMS mediates the relationships of TRUST, CM, and NT to IUR, becoming a necessary condition for TRUST, CM, and NT to improve IUR. These results support the conclusion that managers of university research groups should promote the development of TMSs to stimulate IUR in order to make these groups more competitive

Quality Management and collective mind: investigating university R&D from a group focus

This article analyses how Quality Management (QM) practices moderate the relationship between collective mind (CM), and knowledge transfer (KT) and absorption in university research and development (R&D) groups. The data are taken from 257 R&D groups in different Spanish universities. The findings show that the relationship between CM and KT is significant when QM is included as a moderating variable because QM permits better communication and fosters stronger ties between group members. In the case of knowledge absorption (KA), however, QM does not have a significant effect. The final section presents the study's conclusions and implications. As no studies have tested these effects empirically, our conclusions are highly relevant for academics and researchers

Dynamic capabilities, human resources and operating routines: a new product development approach

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explain the outcomes and role of dynamic capabilities (DCs). To explain the outcomes, the authors study the relationship between new product development (NPD) (an example of DCs) and metaflexibility. To explain the role of DCs, the authors study how human resources and operating routines moderate the role of DCs in achieving adaptation in the firm. Design/methodology/approach – Using data from 200 managers of Spanish firms, the authors apply regression analysis to test the moderating role of human resources and operating routines in the relationship between NPD and metaflexibility. Findings – The results demonstrate that highly qualified and committed workers enhance the effectiveness of NPD, while high frequency in repetition of operating routines significantly damages such effectiveness. Research limitations/implications – This study is limited to analysing a unique DC (NPD), but future research could explore contributions on other consolidated DCs (e.g. alliance management capability) and compare results. Also, the database on managerial perceptions rather than objective measures. Practical implications – Managers who must address environmental changes should connect generation of DCs to complementary functional strategies, especially human resources strategy. Originality/value – This paper suggests additional outcomes derived from DCs, such as metaflexibility. It attempts to understand the complex process by which DCs interact to modify operating routines in order to respond to environmental changes

Organizational learning and innovation as sources of strategic fit

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the roles played by organizational learning (OL) and innovation in organizations immersed in the processes of adaptation and strategic fit in dynamic and turbulent environments. The authors analyze whether OL and innovation act as sources of strategic fit, and whether strategic fit positively affects performance. Design/methodology/approach The authors use data from a survey of a representative sample of 204 respondents from European firms active in high-technology sectors (response rate: 10.42 percent) and structural equation modeling (using the EQS 6.1 program) to undertake a transversal study. Findings The model confirms that OL and the capacity to innovate positively influence managers’ decisions to adapt their organizations to changes in dynamic environments. The achievement of strategic fit, in turn, improves organizational performance. The authors propose considering the innovation climate as a facilitator of new product and process development, although the innovation climate is not a direct antecedent of fit. Research limitations/implications This study is limited by the fact that the analysis is cross-sectional and by the fact that all measures used are based on managers’ perceptions. Practical implications Managers should create and support an entrepreneurial culture that stresses continuous learning. They should also foster programs aimed at developing abilities, and promote the development of capabilities that facilitate acceptance of organizational change. Investments in building certain capabilities, such as OL and the capacity to innovate, are strategically justified, especially in turbulent environments. Originality/value This study is one of the first to investigate the complex interactions among OL, innovation, strategic fit, and performance. The results improve our understanding of the links between strategic fit and performance

Examining desorptive capacity in supply chains: the role of organizational ambidexterity

Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explain how a buying organization’s desorptive capacity relative to its supply network enhances the organization’s supply chain competence. The research also analyzes the contingent role of the balanced and combined dimensions of ambidexterity in this relationship. Design/methodology/approach – Empirical results are obtained through analysis of survey data from a sample of 270 European firms. Hierarchical regression analysis is used to test the hypotheses. Findings – The results confirm, first, the positive and significant relationship between the buying organization’s desorptive capacity and supply chain competence; and, second, the key moderating role of organizational ambidexterity, especially in its combined dimension, in this relationship. Practical implications – The study suggests that desorptive capacity is key to the organization’s contribution to supply chain competitiveness. The authors also provide practitioners with better understanding of the extent to which they should attempt to balance exploration and exploitation or/and to maximize both simultaneously when seeking greater benefit from desorptive capacity. Originality/value – This study extends desorptive capacity research to supply chain management. It responds to calls in the desorptive capacity literature for deeper understanding of the benefits of desorptive capacity and of the role organizational ambidexterity plays in the success of desorptive capacity. By analyzing the independent effects of the combined and balanced dimensions of ambidexterity, the authors advance conceptual and operational understanding of the role of ambidexterity needed in the literatur

Six Sigma: From a goal-theoretic perspective to shared-vision development

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to extend understanding of the success of Six Sigma quality management initiative by investigating the effects of Six Sigma teamwork and statistical process control (SPC) on organizational shared vision.Design/methodology/approach: The information used comes from a larger study, the data for which were collected from a random sample of 237 European firms. Of these 237 organizations, 58 are Six Sigma organizations. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to test the hypotheses.Findings: The main findings show that Six Sigma teamwork and SPC positively affect the development of organizational shared vision. A positive but not significant influence is also observed between shared vision and organizational performance.Research limitations/implications: Positive effects found in this study should be investigated further employing a larger sample of Six Sigma firms and including other variables such as organizational learning. Further, the effects of these variables on performance should be measured with real results from firms to test possible direct and indirect influence on performance.Practical implications: The findings of this study offer a justification of Six Sigma implementation in firms. This study provides us with an in-depth understanding of some structural elements that characterize the Six Sigma methodology, enabling us to provide an explanation for its success.Originality/value: There is little empirical research on the positive effects of Six Sigma implementation and even less that explains the success of Six Sigma initiatives. Our paper contributes to filling this gap. It also contributes to emerging literature on how the development of shared vision affects organizational performance

Business ecosystem embeddedness to enhance supply chain competence: the key role of external knowledge capacities

This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Business under Grant ECO2017-84138-P; FEDER/Junta de Andaluc~iaMinistry of Economy and Knowledge under grant A-SEJ-154-UGR18. The first author's research was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities under FPU Predoctoral Program [Grant Ref. FPU16/04712] and complementary mobility grant for short stays [Application number EST18/00138].Interest in business ecosystems has grown exponentially over the last decade. This article focuses on the operational benefits of business ecosystems by investigating how embeddedness in business ecosystems influences supply chain competence. Specifically, it considers the mediating effect of external knowledge capacities (i.e. absorptive, desorptive and connective capacity). Data from 271 European firms in business ecosystems was collected to test the paper’s hypotheses using regression analysis with bootstrapping. Results indicate that business ecosystem embeddedness does not in itself improve supply chain competence. Rather, the relationship is explained through (i) absorptive and desorptive capacity as direct mediators; and (ii) connective capacity, which enhances supply chain competence indirectly by improving external knowledge retention for absorptive and desorptive capacity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper to demonstrate benefits of being embedded in business ecosystems other than in terms of innovation. Newly validated scales for business ecosystem embeddedness and connective capacity are provided.Spanish Ministry of Economy and Business ECO2017-84138-PSpanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities FPU16/04712 EST18/00138FEDER/Junta de AndaluciaMinistry of Economy and Knowledge A-SEJ-154-UGR1