The DOI matches its Crossref record; 59 of the 68 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Network structure and innovation: The leveraging of a dual network as a distinctive relational capability
Open accessAbstract
This paper employs comparative longitudinal case study research to investigate why and how strong dyadic interfirm ties and two alternative network architectures (a ‘strong ties network’ and a ‘dual network’) impact the innovative capability of the lead firm in an alliance network. I answer these intrinsically cross‐level research questions by examining how three design‐intensive furnishings manufacturers managed their networks of joint‐design alliances with consulting industrial design firms over more than 30 years. Initially, in order to explore the sample lead firms' alliance behavior, I advance an operationalization of interorganizational tie strength. Next, I unveil the strengths of strong ties and the weaknesses of a strong ties network. Finally, I show that the ability to integrate a large periphery of heterogeneous weak ties and a core of strong ties is a distinctive lead firm's relational capability, one that provides fertile ground for leading firms in knowledge‐intensive alliance networks to gain competitive advantages whose sustainability is primarily based on the dynamic innovative capability resulting from leveraging a dual network architecture. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“While a GVC can typically be conceptualized as an asymmetrical or high centrality network with a lead firm at its centre (Kano, 2018), these networks can also be heterogeneous in terms of such characteristics as depth, density, openness, and the presence of structural holes (Capaldo, 2007;Rowley, 1997).”
From Global value chains: A review of the multi-disciplinary literature (2020) · cites this paper as Capaldo, 2007
Citations
Cites
Granovetter, M. S. (1973) · American Journal of Sociology · doi:10.1086/225469 · Cited by 40,491
Rogers, E. M., Singhal, A., & Quinlan, M. M. (2019) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780203710753-35 · Cited by 37,670
Absorptive Capacity: A New Perspective on Learning and Innovation
Cohen, W. M., & Levinthal, D. A. (1990) · Administrative Science Quarterly · doi:10.2307/2393553 · Cited by 35,728
Hierarchical Grouping to Optimize an Objective Function
Ward, J. H. (1963) · Journal of the American Statistical Association · doi:10.1080/01621459.1963.10500845 · Cited by 21,341
Building Theories from Case Study Research
Eisenhardt, K. M. (1989) · The Academy of Management Review · doi:10.2307/258557 · Cited by 17,455
The Relational View: Cooperative Strategy and Sources of Interorganizational Competitive Advantage
Dyer, J. H., & Singh, H. (1998) · Academy of Management Review · doi:10.5465/amr.1998.1255632 · Cited by 12,810
Social Structure and Competition in Interfirm Networks: The Paradox of Embeddedness
Uzzi, B. (1997) · Administrative Science Quarterly · doi:10.2307/2393808 · Cited by 9,853
Everitt, B. J., Landau, S., & Leese, M. (1974) · Cited by 9,186
Burt, R. S. (1992) · doi:10.4159/9780674029095 · Cited by 9,093
Goodall, C. R., & Jolliffe, I. T. (1988) · Technometrics · doi:10.2307/1270093 · Cited by 8,797
Flagged first, then by citations
9 of the 68 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Research works printed but not linked: 23
- 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0266(200003)21:3<267::AID-SMJ89>3.0.CO;2-8 · DOI
- Blankenburg Holm D, 1999, Creating value through mutual commitment to business network relationships, Strategic Management Journal, 20, 467
- Bouroche JM, 1983, L'analyse des Données
- 10.2307/4134389 · DOI
- 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0266(200003)21:3<345::AID-SMJ96>3.0.CO;2-N · DOI
- 10.2307/259056 · DOI
- Good D, 1988, Trust: Making and Breaking Cooperative Relations, 31
- Granovetter M, 1982, Social Structure and Network Analysis, 105
- 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0266(200003)21:3<203::AID-SMJ102>3.0.CO;2-K · DOI
- 10.2307/259296 · DOI
- Hampel FR, 1986, Robust Statistics: The Approach Based on Influence Functions
- Harary F, 1965, Structural Models
- 10.2307/256887 · DOI
- 10.2307/259249 · DOI
- 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0266(200003)21:3<217::AID-SMJ95>3.0.CO;2-Y · DOI
- Krackhardt D, 1992, Networks and Organizations, 216
- MacQueen J, 1967, Proceedings of the Fifth Berkeley Symposium on Mathematical Statistics and Probability, 281
- 10.2307/258836 · DOI
- Rogers E, 2003, Diffusion of Innovations
- Rousseau DM, 1985, Research in Organizational Behavior, 1
- 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0266(200003)21:3<369::AID-SMJ93>3.0.CO;2-M · DOI
- 10.2307/256930 · DOI
- Yin K, 1994, Case Study Research
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 901–982 of 982
Fu, X. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316869482.002
Innovation and Growth of African Firms
Fu, X. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316869482.007 · Cited by 1
Fu, X. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316869482.015
Fu, X. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316869482.001
The Diffusion of Innovation in Ghana Survey
Fu, X. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316869482.016
Open Innovation as a Response to Constraints and Risks
Fu, X. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316869482.006
Social Networks and Knowledge Diffusion within MNE Subsidiaries
Fu, X. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316869482.011
Fu, X. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316869482.017
Gao, Q. (2022) · IEEE International Conference on Electrical Engineering, Big Data and Algorithms (EEBDA) · doi:10.1109/eebda53927.2022.9744751
Silvestri, R. (2017) · doi:10.1002/9781118906460.ch4f
Annosi, M. C., & Brunetta, F. (2020) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780429203701-1
Building Ambidextrous Supply Chains in SMEs
Faisal, M. N., & Talib, F. (2019) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/978-1-7998-0945-6.ch088
DRS2016: Future-Focused Thinking
Lloyd, P. A., & Bohemia, E. (2016) · Proceedings of DRS · doi:10.21606/drs.2016.v4
(2013) · Technology, innovation, entrepreneurship and competitive strategy · doi:10.1108/s1479-067x(2013)0000013003
Fu, X. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316869482.019
A Methodology for Inter-Organizational Emergency Management Continuity Planning
Lindström, J., Harnesk, D., Laaksonen, E., & Niemimaa, M. I. (2012) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/978-1-4666-0167-3.ch014
Higher Education in Innovation Ecosystems
Cai, Y., Ma, J., & Chen, Q. (2020) · MDPI eBooks · doi:10.3390/books978-3-03936-576-0
Huggins, R., & Thompson, P. (2021) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198832348.003.0010
It’s not about the maestro: a case of orchestration failure in an interorganizational networkPreprint
Barzolai, M. M., & Moretti, A. (2022) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4163642
Creative Clusters, Creative Economy and City Growth: A Case for Bespoke Creative Models & Policies
Nwagboh, M. (2022) · Journal of Culture, Society and Development · doi:10.7176/jcsd/67-09
Wei, J., & Li, L. (2022) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-2161805/v1
The View of IT-Consuming Firms on the Key Digital Service Capabilities of IT-Producing Firms
Sore, S., Saunila, M., & Ukko, J. (2022) · Interdisciplinary Journal of Information Knowledge and Management · doi:10.28945/5039
“Participation in different relationship forums with different parties (Capaldo, 2007; Hertwig, 2012) highlights the significance of a firm’s learning processes and experiences, through which it can obtain and generate knowledge on how to optimally control its relationships (Kale & Singh, 2007).”
BackgroundNhư, M. P., Anh, Đ. L., & Minh, Q. T. H. (2022) · Journal of Asian Business and Economic Studies · doi:10.24311/jabes/2022.33.09.02
Ni, Y., & Li, J. (2022) · Lecture notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-22324-2_10
Learning in Service Ecosystems: Conceptualizing Network Learning in Servitization
Shahzad, K. (2023) · International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management (IEOM) · doi:10.46254/an12.20220057
“For this purpose, several network learning related activities can be identified from prior literature, for example, relational experience (Capaldo 2007; Garrette et al. 2009; Kale and Singh 2007; Wittmann et al. 2009), relational information sharing and interdependence (Shahzad et al.”
BackgroundA Estratégia de Intercooperação de Redes Empresariais: uma Análise dos Fatores Preditores
Wegner, D., Almeida, M., Fortes, M. V. B., & Dallagnol, M. M. F. (2023) · Redes · doi:10.17058/redes.v28i1.17436
Reptation Theory: Entanglements in Social NetworksPreprint
Kraude, R., & Nair, A. (2023) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4507530
IMPLEMENTATION OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF INNOVATIONS SIDE BY SIDE: CASE OF SMEs IN FINLAND
Tohmo, T., Storhammar, E., & Littunen, H. (2023) · International Journal of Innovation Management · doi:10.1142/s1363919623500184
Sabhahit, A., & Hillemane, B. S. M. (2023) · International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management (IEOM) · doi:10.46254/au02.20230137
Trott, P., Simms, C., & Stornelli, A. (2024) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4761997
REDES DE INOVAÇÃO E DE CONHECIMENTO
Diniz, D. G., & de Castro, C. C. (2024) · P2P E INOVAÇÃO · doi:10.21728/p2p.2024v10n2e-6849
Bobowski, S. (2023) · Wroclaw University of Economics and Business eBooks · doi:10.15611/2023.18.5
Huggins, R., & Thompson, P. (2021) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198832348.002.0004
Huggins, R., & Thompson, P. (2021) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198832348.002.0007
Huggins, R., & Thompson, P. (2021) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198832348.002.0006
Huggins, R., & Thompson, P. (2021) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198832348.002.0003
Zang, S., Sun, M., wu, H., & zhou, J. (2024) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4836999
Hui, R. T., Wu, D. C. W., & Luo, J. (2024) · International Conference on Information and Education Technology (ICIET) · doi:10.1109/iciet60671.2024.10542795
The Interplay between Strategic Design and Market Orientations in Achieving New Product AdvantagePreprint
Dell’Era, C., Im, S., Noble, C. H., Ishida, D., & Onzo, N. (2024) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4883031
Trachuk, A. V., & Kolobov, A. V. (2024) · Strategic decisions and risk management · doi:10.17747/2618-947x-2024-1-10-22
Towards a Sociocognitive Perspective on Ecosystem Leadership
Shevchuk, D., & Reuter, E. (2024) · Advances in logistics, operations, and management science book series · doi:10.4018/979-8-3693-5777-4.ch012
The strengths of CEO social ties: a cost-benefit framework
Tang, J. (2024) · Journal of Strategy and Management · doi:10.1108/jsma-06-2024-0133
Ren, X.-W., Wu, L., & Du, J. (2024) · Environment, Development and Sustainability · doi:10.1007/s10668-024-05705-z · Cited by 1
“The relational embedding was composed of three items, namely the contact frequency, degree of closeness and trust among organizations referred to the studies of Uzzi (1997) and Capaldo (2007).”
Xiao, C. (2025) · Agricultural Economics (Zemědělská ekonomika) · doi:10.17221/369/2024-agricecon
Guesmi, B., Taghouti, I., Escobar, C., & Roig, J. M. G. (2025) · International journal on food system dynamics · doi:10.1163/18696945-bja00003
Zhou, J., Zhang, X., & Zhang, C. (2025) · Journal of Supply Chain Management · doi:10.1111/jscm.12351
Less is More? How to Blend Relational Embeddedness and Knowledge Redundancy in New Product AlliancesPreprint
Harmancioǧlu, N., Erzurumlu, İ., & Fang, W. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5647598
Public-Private Innovation Strategic Alliances for SMEs
Tsekouras, G., & Kompis, C. (2013) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/978-1-62396-489-420251003
Stakeholder Centrality Potential and Relational Identification in Technological Innovation Networks
Fortin, I. (2017) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/978-1-68123-860-920251003
A Network Approach to Open Innovation and Strategic Alliances
Amalya, L. O., & Gordon, M.-S. (2022) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/978-1-64802-962-220251010
Overcoming Innovation Barriers
Srivastava, M. K., Bruyaka, O., & Gnyawalị, D. R. (2012) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/978-1-62396-060-520251006
Lövnord, A. (2015) · KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)
Organa, M. (2014) · Prace Naukowe Wałbrzyskiej Wyższej Szkoły Zarządzania i Przedsiębiorczości
Less is More? How to Blend Relational Embeddedness and Knowledge Redundancy in New Product AlliancesPreprint
Harmancioǧlu, N., Erzurumlu, İ., & Wu, F. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5647597
Discursive Paths in Leadership Development
Elgayeva, K. (2019) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/978-1-64113-569-620251003
Mori, S. S. O., dos Santos, C. D., & Ferraz, I. N. (2026) · Revista Brasileira de Inovação · doi:10.20396/rbi.v24i00.8675044
Az olasz és a magyar kamarai rendszer összehasonlítása – bizalomépítés dél-európai módon
Balogh, A., & Kozák, S. (2026) · Világpolitika és a Közgazdaságtan · doi:10.14267/vilpol2026.02.06
Ozdemir, S., Gupta, S., Bebek, G., Verma, D. S., & Shin, M. M. (2026) · Technological Forecasting and Social Change · doi:10.1016/j.techfore.2026.124641 · Cited by 1
He, Y., Hu, M., Lin, Y., & Liu, L. (2026) · Journal of strategy and management · doi:10.1108/jsma-07-2025-0255
Triggering Entities as Informal Leaders Traits and Conditions Shaping Collaboration in R&D ConsortiaPreprint
Afridi, U. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.6580141
Liu, R. H., Chang, W., & Zhong, L. (2026) · Chinese Management Studies · doi:10.1108/cms-12-2025-1266
Strazdas, R., Černevičiūtė, J., & Banelienė, R. (2026) · Creativity Studies · doi:10.3846/cs.2026.25105
Hong, J., Ma, L., Zhang, T., & Zhao, N. (2026) · Journal of Knowledge Management · doi:10.1108/jkm-11-2024-1414
Naamati-Schneider, L. (2026) · BMC Nursing · doi:10.1186/s12912-026-04769-8
“Factors such as internal coordination, professional networks, and inter-organizational collaboration contribute to adaptive capacity [31–32], while the quality of relationships between organizations and employees influences responses to uncertainty and change [33].”
Relational Embeddedness and Arab Cultural Basic Values
Pellegrini, M. M., Saman, D., Rebhi-Tari, I., & Petrolo, D. (2020) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/978-1-64802-041-420251004
Serrasqueiro, J., & Franco, M. (2026) · European Business Review · doi:10.1108/ebr-03-2026-0111
The interplay between strategic design and market orientations in achieving new product advantage
Dell’Era, C., Im, S., Noble, C. H., Ishida, D., & Onzo, N. (2026) · European Journal of Marketing · doi:10.1108/ejm-02-2025-0085
Hill, T., Svystunova, L., & Du, X. (2026) · Journal of International Management · doi:10.1016/j.intman.2026.101403 · Cited by 1
Radical Innovation Validation: Delivering Value in Radical Innovation Development
Zhang, R., Lin, J., Capaldo, A., & Cai, Y. (2026) · R and D Management · doi:10.1111/radm.70052
Self-citationAI-driven supply chain innovation: The roles of supply chain ambidexterity and complexity
Yang, Q., Capaldo, A., Su, Q., & Qiao, J. (2026) · Technology in Society · doi:10.1016/j.techsoc.2026.103461
Self-citationLi, W., & Zhou, J.-B. (2026) · Journal of Knowledge Management · doi:10.1108/jkm-02-2026-0371
Tang, H., Kuang, Z., Chai, C., Zhao, S., Hu, Q., & Ma, Z. (2026) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su18168377
Hariyani, D., Hariyani, P., Choudhary, S., & Mishra, S. (2026) · Environmental Management · doi:10.1016/j.jemecp.2026.100029
Hedelius, M., & Andersén, J. (2026) · International Journal of Innovation Science · doi:10.1108/ijis-04-2026-0275
“The study by Capaldo (2007) is especially interesting because of the care taken to identify relevant case companies.”
Specyficzne aktywa: koncepcje teoretyczne i dowody empiryczne
Wójcik-Karpacz, A. (2014) · Prace Naukowe Wałbrzyskiej Wyższej Szkoły Zarządzania i Przedsiębiorczości
Sroka, W., & Hittmár, Š. (2013) · SpringerBriefs in business · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-34246-2_1
Ego Networks and Firm Innovativeness
Kudic, M. (2014) · Economic complexity and evolution · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-07935-6_10
Metadata
- Authors
- Capaldo, A.
- Affiliations
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Capaldo, Antonio
- ORCID
- Capaldo, Antonio
- Venue
- Strategic Management Journal
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2007-03-07
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 585-608
- ISSN
- 0143-2095 (ISSN-L)
- 1097-0266
- OpenAlex
- W2004383939
- Cited by
- 986
- References
- 68
- Citations by year
- 2026: 26 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 34 · 2023: 41 · 2022: 46 · 2021: 81 · 2020: 95 · 2019: 65 · 2018: 60 · 2017: 65 · 2016: 59 · 2015: 70 · 2014: 64 · 2013: 62 · 2012: 58
- FWCI
- 79.26
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- core.ac.uk
- Locations
- Strategic Management Journal (publishedVersion)
- SSRN Electronic Journal (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Innovation and Knowledge Management
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Business Strategy and Innovation
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Management of Technology and Innovation › Entrepreneurship Studies and Influences
- Keywords
- inter-firm networks, network architecture, dual network, strong ties, weak ties, relational capabilities, innovation ability, alliance networks, competitive advantage
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review