Transmission mechanism of simmelian ties on the knowledge spiral – the conducive combination of a high-performance work practice and knowledge fermentation

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse how different strengths of simmelian ties affect knowledge spirals and investigate which major factors affect the influence of simmelian ties on knowledge spirals.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical data in this paper were collected through e-mail and interview questionnaires to R&D teams in high-tech manufacturing enterprises in China. The authors obtained 132 teams' valid responses. The interval decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (interval DEMATEL) method, differential evolution (DE) algorithm and Bayesian structural equation modelling (BSEM) were employed to test the theoretical framework developed for this paper.FindingsThe results show that strong simmelian ties have positive associations with high-performance work practices (HPWPs). Meanwhile, weak simmelian ties have positive associations with HPWPs. Furthermore, HPWPs and knowledge fermentation play a conducive role in the relationship between simmelian ties and knowledge spirals.Originality/valueThis paper contributes in three ways. First, it extends research on the relational antecedents of knowledge spirals. Second, this paper extends the study of social capital related to knowledge spirals. Third, this paper elucidates less familiar factors relating HPWPs to knowledge fermentation by testing the mediating role of HPWPs in knowledge fermentation.

The Effect of Simmelian Ties on Innovation Performance of High-Tech Enterprises: Based on Knowledge Perspective

In an innovation driven business environment, cross-border access to resources is important for companies to improve innovation capabilities and development performance. Based on the previous research, it shows that there are barriers to cross domain communication among alliance firms because of the restriction of multidimensional ties and dyads. Simmelian ties, as a form of alliance network with ternary connections, it effectively restrained opportunism and self-interest in the cooperation process and take a crucial role to evaluate innovation related performance in corporation. Based on the theory of Simmelian, this paper builds a theoretical framework and proposes corresponding research hypotheses between Simmelian ties and enterprise innovation performance. After designing questionnaires, collecting data and conducting empirical analysis to test theoretical models and hypotheses. Results have shown that: (1) Simmelian ties generally have a positive impact on enterprise innovation performance. (2) Knowledge capturing and knowledge integration play a partial intermediary role between Simmelian ties and enterprise innovation performance, and the mediating chain formed by the two variables plays a serial mediating role in the effect. (3) Network routines significantly positively moderates the relationship between Simmelian ties and knowledge capturing. And also, the positive relationship between Simmelian ties and enterprise innovation performance is also actively moderated by network routines. The conclusion of this study is meaningful for companies to establish of Simmelian ties, improve knowledge management capabilities and further promote enterprise innovation performance.

Transmission Mechanism of Simmelian Ties on Knowledge Spiral——Conduction combination of High Performance Work Practice System and Knowledge Fermenting

<p>The knowledge spiral is a dynamic process for knowledge creation and evolution. It makes use of external connection to circulate, integrate, and accumulate all kinds of knowledge resources. The simmelian ties is an effective way to form the external connection. This study constructs the theoretical framework of transmission mechanism of simmelian ties on knowledge spiral. The theoretical framework uses high performance work practice system and knowledge fermenting as conduction and dual media channel variables. It takes high-tech manufacturing enterprises as empirical analysis objects. The study carries out empirical research on the transmission mechanism and media paths of simmelian ties on knowledge spiral by <i>combinations of differential evolution algorithm method, extended DEMATEL method</i>, and <i>Bayesian estimation-SEM method</i>. <b>All of the above methodologies were approved by all human participants</b>. Empirical analysis results indicates that strong and weak simmelian ties have significantly positive effects on high performance work practice system respectively; high performance work practice system significantly promotes knowledge fermenting while knowledge fermenting further plays significantly positive roles in promoting the knowledge spiral. This study takes high performance work practice system and knowledge fermenting as the breakthrough points. It then extends the transmission paths of simmelian ties on knowledge spiral from the perspectives of theoretical and empirical standpoints, which provides theoretical references and practical guidances for promoting and catalyzing knowledge fermenting and knowledge spiral for high-tech manufacturing enterprises.</p>

Transmission Mechanism of Simmelian Ties on Knowledge Spiral——Conduction combination of High Performance Work Practice System and Knowledge Fermenting

<p>The knowledge spiral is a dynamic process for knowledge creation and evolution. It makes use of external connection to circulate, integrate, and accumulate all kinds of knowledge resources. The simmelian ties is an effective way to form the external connection. This study constructs the theoretical framework of transmission mechanism of simmelian ties on knowledge spiral. The theoretical framework uses high performance work practice system and knowledge fermenting as conduction and dual media channel variables. It takes high-tech manufacturing enterprises as empirical analysis objects. The study carries out empirical research on the transmission mechanism and media paths of simmelian ties on knowledge spiral by <i>combinations of differential evolution algorithm method, extended DEMATEL method</i>, and <i>Bayesian estimation-SEM method</i>. <b>All of the above methodologies were approved by all human participants</b>. Empirical analysis results indicates that strong and weak simmelian ties have significantly positive effects on high performance work practice system respectively; high performance work practice system significantly promotes knowledge fermenting while knowledge fermenting further plays significantly positive roles in promoting the knowledge spiral. This study takes high performance work practice system and knowledge fermenting as the breakthrough points. It then extends the transmission paths of simmelian ties on knowledge spiral from the perspectives of theoretical and empirical standpoints, which provides theoretical references and practical guidances for promoting and catalyzing knowledge fermenting and knowledge spiral for high-tech manufacturing enterprises.</p>

Managing Collaborative Effort: How Simmelian Ties Advance Public Sector Networks

The research reported here is a structural analysis of the significance of ties to network leaders in securing the essential effort necessary to whole, goal-directed network functioning. Drawing on the work of Chester Barnard, we focus on one of Barnard’s three functions of the executive, securing essential effort and then examine the importance of certain network ties for securing effort in a goal-directed network. We specifically focus on Simmelian or mutual third-party ties to network leaders and the conditions under which those Simmelian ties are of greater significance for securing effort. Our study examines the Southern Alberta Child and Youth Network (SACYHN), a multisector publicly funded network that worked to facilitate interorganizational connections to improve child and youth health and well-being. Data were collected via an organizational questionnaire and elite interviews and were analyzed using Multiple Regression Quadratic Assignment Procedure (MRQAP). Implications are discussed for network management and leadership, for both theory and practice, focusing especially on the role of ties to network leaders in facilitating connections among member organizations working in different domains.