| Title | Sustaining Growth in the 21st century: Knowledge Sharing & Opportunism in Joint New Product Development |
|---|---|
| ID_Doc | 74287 |
| Authors | Yam, RCM |
| Title | Sustaining Growth in the 21st century: Knowledge Sharing & Opportunism in Joint New Product Development |
| Year | 2014 |
| Published | |
| Abstract | Purpose - Knowledge sharing in joint new product development (NPD) with business partners has been recognized by researchers on its crucial role for sustaining organizational growth in the 21st century. In joint NPD, huge amount of information and knowledge are being interchanged among firms. Organizations worry that knowledge sharing (KS) would invite opportunism; i.e. knowledge being copied, stolen or leaked to outsiders or even competitors. This empirical survey study investigates the relationship of contract, commitment and opportunism during knowledge sharing among business partners in NPD. Design/methodology/approach - 312 valid responses were collected and data was analysed by using structural equation modelling. Our findings indicate that commitment among contractual business partners provide strong support to enhance knowledge sharing in NPD. Knowledge sharing itself will not directly affect product performance. But the enhanced knowledge sharing process among the committed contractual business partners facilitate the NPD team. The extensive sharing of innovative knowledge could help the committed NPD teams with contractual binding to achieve consensus and cohesive understanding of knowledge quickly. This would help the NPD teams to respond quickly to the rapidly changing market with better product performance. Originality/value - Researchers have recognised the importance of corporate collaboration in NPD to sustain growth for firms in today's highly competitive global markets. However, the worry of opportunism for knowledge sharing with business partners in NPD has threatened many business collaborations. This study has shown that knowledge sharing among the committed contractual business partners will suppress rather than increase the chance for opportunism in NPD. Practical implications - Managers engaged in joint NPD activities should commit seriously with their contractual business partners by sharing more innovative knowledge. This would reduce rather than increase the chance for opportunism and lead to better product performance. This finding is important for firms to work collaboratively in NPD for sustaining growth in the 21st century. |
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