The Impact of Interfirm Ambidextrous Controls on Knowledge Transfer:Moderating Effect of Acquisition Capacity
The emergence of the volatile,uncertain,complex,and ambiguous(VUCA)environment has profoundly changed the nature of knowledge types,knowledge activity pathways,and knowledge governance.The importance of inter-firm knowledge transfer in key technological activities has once again become evident.However,configuring an adaptive mechanism that can control fuzzy opportunistic behavior while allowing sufficient and free communication to enhance the accessibility of critical technological resources in the VUCA environment remains a challenge.Recent research has at-tempted to explore the explanatory logic of governance mechanisms in the context of emerging technologies.Unfortunate-ly,this stream of work has often adopted an"either-or"logic paradigm to analyze the interrelation and contradictory be-tween different governance mechanisms,such as formal and informal controls.Such an approach provides simplistic and one-sided explanations of mechanisms like facilitating or inhibiting mechanisms.It falls short in effectively addressing the challenges posed by the VUCA environment and meeting the high demands of firms for dual governance efficacy.There-fore,how to adapt control mechanisms to promote complex interfirm knowledge transfer in the VUCA situations has be-come a focal issue to be solved urgently in the intersection of governance and knowledge transfer domains.To fill the research gaps mentioned above,this study reexamines governance mechanisms and knowledge transfer activities by starting with the characteristics of VUCA environment.Building upon the ambidexterity theory,this study develops the concept of interfirm ambidextrous control and reveals the matching relationships between different integra-tion patterns of interfirm ambidextrous control and differentiated knowledge transfer.Furthermore,the study examines the moderating effect of acquisition capability in this context.Based on the survey data from 260 manufacturing firms,our empirical results indicate that:(1)The combination(balance)of process and social controls has a stronger positive effect on the technology transfer than technical exchanges.(2)The combination(balance)of outcome and social controls has a stronger positive effect on the technical exchanges than technology transfer.(3)Acquisition capacity plays a negative moderating role in the relationship between the combination of process and social controls with technology transfer,and the combination of outcome and social controls with technical exchanges.This study follows the propositions of some scholars who advocate reevaluating control mechanisms using an ambi-dextrous perspective to manage complex activities.In this pursuit,the study delves into the ambidextrous nature of control mechanisms,exploring the combined and balance dimensions of interfirm ambidextrous control.Following the logic of ambidexterity,our research sheds light on the mechanisms of interfirm ambidextrous control.Notably,this endeavor con-tributes to cross-disciplinary research,bridging the domains of the organizational control and ambidexterity field.These ef-forts provide fresh evidence for the analysis of an ambidextrous perspective on governance mechanisms.Moreover,our study introduces a novel form of knowledge transfer.By seamlessly integrating ambidexterity theory and organizational control theory,this study offers a unique analytical perspective and empirical evidence to explore mechanisms for inter-firm knowledge transfer within the dynamic VUCA context.This contribution significantly enriches the existing body of knowledge transfer research.Furthermore,by identifying acquisition capacity as the boundary condition of the relationship between governance mechanism and knowledge transfer,we extend the research context from traditional resource manage-ment to the innovative realm of knowledge-based resource governance.For businesses operating in a VUCA environment,enterprises should identify and proactively embrace the compati-bility of contradiction and interrelation between distinct control mechanisms.This approach enables them to fully leverage and harness ambidextrous governance effectiveness.Additionally,enterprises can adopt differentiated interfirm ambidex-trous control integration patterns tailored to the specific governance requirements of diverse interfirm knowledge transfer activities.Moreover,when promoting interfirm knowledge transfer,enterprises need to fully consider their acquisition ca-pacity in ensuring the successful implementation of interfirm ambidextrous control strategies.
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