Learning and innovation in international strategic alliances: An empirical test of the role of trust and tacitness
Abstract
Drawing on knowledge‐based, organizational learning, and social capital perspectives, we propose and test an integrated framework in which knowledge tacitness and trust act as mediating mechanisms in the relationship between partner characteristics and alliance outcomes. We distinguish between learning and innovation outcomes and suggest that while innovation may result from alliance learning, it can also be created by combining separate knowledge bases without learning from each other. We contend that tacitness and trust play differing roles in the pursuit of learning and innovation and test this proposition on a sample of 120 international strategic alliances.
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While tacit knowledge can inhibit knowledge transfer and learning, it can also increase firms' ability to innovate.
“While tacit knowledge can inhibit knowledge transfer and learning, it can also increase firms' ability to innovate (Nielsen & Nielsen, 2009)”
From Linking knowledge management, organizational learning and memory (2020) · cites this paper as Nielsen & Nielsen, 2009
Learning and innovation can occur simultaneously but result from different combinations of partner characteristics, knowledge characteristics, and relational quality.
“Additionally, Nielsen and Nielsen (2009) examined results related to international strategic alliances (ISAs) knowledge, demonstrate that learning and innovation can occur simultaneously but result from different combinations of partner characteristics, knowledge characteristics, and relational quality.”
From Linking knowledge management, organizational learning and memory (2020) · cites this paper as Nielsen & Nielsen, 2009
Cites
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“As innovation is a highly uncertain process (March, 1991), firms cannot know and define in advance what information and resources will be needed, therefore an open communication channel is essential to promote innovation.”
BackgroundA Dynamic Theory of Organizational Knowledge Creation
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“As such, tacit knowledge is highly personal, deeply rooted in action and in an individual’s involvement in a specific context (Nonaka, 1994).”
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“This is particularly true when the knowledge of interest is highly tacit and the cost of codification is high (Kogut and Zander, 1992).”
BackgroundInfluentialOrganizational Learning: A Theory of Action Perspective
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“Similar to what others have called ‘double-loop learning’ (Argyris and Schön, 1978) or ‘higher-level learning’ (Fiol and Lyles, 1985), learning is defined as the acquisition (or transfer and development) of external knowledge that creates the capacity for further action.”
ResultAn integrative model of organizational trust
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“The link between learning and innovation has received little systematic attention in the alliance literature (see Easterby-Smith et al., 2008; van Wijk et al., 2008).”
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Linking knowledge management, organizational learning and memory
Antunes, H. D. J. G., & Pinheiro, P. G. (2020) · Journal of Innovation & Knowledge · doi:10.1016/j.jik.2019.04.002 · Cited by 342 · see citing works
“Linking knowledge management, organizational learning and .1016/j.jik.2019.04.002 ing, it can also increase firms’ ability to innovate (Nielsen & Nielsen, 2009) ING ModelJ f Inno T s G ( T m U n H u w t o l t t e B c t s a G R m i m i t o t T t T b i b p t c W v r ( r B 2 o ( 1 e p d t a e c…”
BackgroundInfluential
- Authors
- Nielsen, B. B., & Nielsen, S.
- Affiliations
- Copenhagen Business School (DK)
- Corresponding author
- Nielsen, Bo Bernhard
- Venue
- Journal of Management Studies
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2009-07-22
- Volume
- 46
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1031-1056
- ISSN
- 0022-2380 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-6486
- OpenAlex
- W2066087481
- Cited by
- 316
- References
- 16
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 26 · 2016: 28 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 15
- FWCI
- 41.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Management Studies (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- UTS ePRESS (University of Technology Sydney) (submittedVersion)
- CBS Research Portal (Copenhagen Business School) (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 › Strategy and Management › International Business and FDI
- Keywords
- international alliances, trust, organizational learning, innovation, knowledge-based view, social capital, partner characteristics, alliance outcomes, knowledge integration
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