Complex Product Systems Innovation And Knowledge Management Mechanism Based On Inter-organizational Cooperation Links

Complex product and systems (CoPS) can be defined as high cost, technology and software intensive products, systems and networks, which are manufactured in small batches. CoPS play a vital role in the modern economy and society. Much research has recognized that cross-disciplinary knowledge inputs are necessary to successful product innovation, particularly in CoPS contexts. However, most academic research on knowledge management (KM) focuses on managing knowledge within a mass-producing organization, and KM practices beyond the boundaries of organizations are much less studied. Especially less attention has been paid to how inter-organizational KM affects innovation process and performance. On the other hand, few KM articles can be found in the CoPS literature. In fact, the system integrators in charge of CoPS development often need to manage technological innovation and uncertainties across organizational boundaries, and knowledge is dispersed in the network consisting of inter-dependent integrators, suppliers, users and relevant interest parties, which are new challenges to CoPS innovation.To fill in this gap, this thesis explores the knowledge importance, inter-organizational KM barriers, key factors of inter-organizational collaboration and KM in CoPS innovation, and the impacts of inter-organizational linkages and KM on CoPS innovation. Based on a review of related literature and a field study, this thesis develops an integrated conceptual model showing the links between the dimensions of inter-organizational linkages, KM and the performance of CoPS project development. With qualitative and quantitative research methods, the mechanism of inter-organizational collaboration and KM affecting CoPS innovation is analyzed. Finally, the implications for inter-organizational KM in a CoPS environment are discussed.Through a mail survey, 181 effective samples of CoPS projects are collected and analyzed. Using statistical analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM), the main conclusions are presented as below:1) The knowledge in CoPS innovation is important (i.e. sound business and management advice, system functionality advice, component/sub-system design knowledge, interface design knowledge and system integration knowledge). However, the degree of importance is not the same for CoPS projects in different...