The Impact Of Relational Governance In Modular Innovation Platforms On Product Innovation

At present,under the global background of advocating innovation-driven and the continuous integration of high-end manufacturing and information technology,with leading firms as the core,the platform business model of connecting supply networks is subverting the traditional method of product innovation.Leading firms provide a basic platform structure on which module suppliers create complementary innovations.They achieve deep cooperation and collaborative innovation through meticulous division of labor and effective integration.To fully utilize the advantages and resources of module suppliers and to organize them for improved collaborative innovation,the leading firms should establish and maintain a stable and coordinated communication and cooperation relationship with module suppliers,that is,relational governance.Platform relational governance is not only an important manifestation of a leading enterprise's leadership,but also an important determinant of platform cooperative innovation results.However,the deepening of relational governance is not always beneficial.Relational governance based on joint actions(including joint planning and joint problem solving)carries the potential risk of knowledge leakage and infringement of innovation appropriability.However,most of the existing researches only focus on the positive role of relational governance in cooperation,little attention has been paid to the differential impact of different dimensions of relational governance on product innovation,especially the negative impact.Therefore,it is of great theoretical and practical significance to study the influence mechanism of different ways of platform relational governance on product innovation.At the same time,optimizing the matching relationship between relational governance and innovation appropriability mechanisms,finding the boundary conditions for relational governance to promote product innovation,examining the contingency role of market environment in the relationship between relational governance and product innovation,and studying the environmental conditions for the effectiveness of relational governance are also key scientific issues worth exploring.Based on this,this thesis combines the theories of resource dependence,relational exchange and knowledge management,and uses the methods of literature analysis,modeling simulation,on-site interview,theoretical deduction,questionnaire survey,exploratory factor analysis,confirmatory factor analysis,and econometric model to explore the influence mechanism of relational governance of modular innovation platform on product innovation.The main contents are as follows:(1)Research logic and theoretical framework construction.Firstly,this thesis analyzes the formation and organizational characteristics of the modular innovation platform,and then analyzes the cooperative symbiosis relationship between the leading firm and module suppliers in the platform,simulates the different evolution stages of the symbiosis relationship,and concludes that proper relational governance is needed to achieve the optimal mutualistic symbiosis model.Then,based on joint action,relational governance is divided into two dimensions of joint planning and joint problem solving,and the two contingency factors,innovation appropriability mechanism and market environment,in the relationship between relational governance and product innovation are analyzed.On this basis,the theoretical framework for the impact of relational governance of modular innovation platform on product innovation is constructed.(2)Research on the impact of relational governance of modular innovation platforms based on joint actions on product innovation.This thesis proposes research hypotheses by expounding the different influence mechanisms of joint planning and joint problem solving on product innovation.On this basis,we take the platform leading firms as the survey objects,collect data through questionnaire surveys and on-site interviews,and empirically test the research hypotheses by using the hierarchical regression analysis method.The results show that joint planning positively affects product innovation,and joint problem solving has an inverted Ushaped effect on product innovation.(3)Research on the moderating effect of innovation appropriability mechanisms.This thesis analyzes the knowledge protection mechanism of the legal and technological appropriability mechanisms,and creatively proposes a technological appropriability mechanism for a platform,that is "interface standardization";and then,the moderating effects of the two types of appropriability mechanisms between relational governance and product innovation are discussed in detail,and research hypotheses are proposed.An empirical analysis based on questionnaire survey data found that intellectual property rights positively moderates the impact of joint planning on product innovation,and contract and interface standardization alleviate the inverted U-shaped impact of joint problem solving on product innovation.(4)Research on the moderating effect of market environment.This thesis analyzes the moderating role of market munificence and market dynamism between relational governance and product innovation,and puts forward research hypotheses.The empirical test results show that market munificence steepens the inverted Ushaped impact of joint problem solving on product innovation,and market dynamism enhances the positive impact of joint planning on product innovation.This research discovers the different mechanisms by which joint planning and joint problem solving affect product innovation,as well as the potential damage caused by excessive joint problem solving to product innovation.We develop relational governance theory by revealing its negative effects and limitations.Furthermore,by examining the matching relationship between relational governance and appropriability mechanisms,we offer novel and complementary insights regarding the integration and optimization of open sharing and innovation protection.In addition,this thesis reveals the market environmental conditions for the effectiveness of relational governance strategies,and deepens the theoretical explanation of matching mechanism of platform governance strategies and environment.The research conclusions have important reference value for leading firms to gain innovative advantages through scientific platform relational governance and knowledge management.