The Effect of Learning Approaches on the Utilization of External Knowledge in Strategic Alliances
Mazloomi Khamseh, H., Jolly, D., Morel, L., (Forthcoming). The Effect of Learning Approaches on the Utilization of External Knowledge in Strategic Alliances. Industrial Marketing Management. doi:10.1016/j.indmarman.2016.12.004
47 Pages Posted: 28 Jan 2017
Date Written: January 17, 2017
Abstract
Profiting from external knowledge is crucial for a firm's innovation, and strategic alliances are a well-recognized conduit for bringing the benefit of external knowledge as an input to a firm's innovation processes. This study investigates whether the approach a firm follows for learning from an external partner has an impact on the extent to which the learned knowledge is utilized. By contrasting the exploration and the exploitation learning modes in 114 strategic alliances formed by French firms, the authors show that exploration is positively associated with the utilization of knowledge learned from the partner. Furthermore, the findings show that even when the partners' knowledge profiles are alike, exploration is influential.
Keywords: External knowledge utilization, Exploration, Dissimilarity, Search, Strategic alliance
JEL Classification: D83, M10
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation