Informal Governance Mechanism, Network Power and Knowledge Flow of Enterprise Innovation Network

摘要

Knowledge flow is the core activity of an innovation network, how to promote the knowledge flow in the innovation network, improve the sustainable development ability of the innovation network, and enhance the sustainable competitive advantage of enterprises are the main problems faced by enterprises in the era of knowledge economy. Knowledge flow in innovation network is influenced by informal governance mechanism and network power, but there need further research on how informal governance and network influence knowledge flow. Based on the existing research, this paper sums up four types of informal governance mechanisms: trust, reputation, cooperation culture and joint sanctions. Taking data from 227 enterprises' questionnaires as samples, this paper uses fsQCA method to study the relationship between knowledge flow, informal governance mechanism and network power. The results showed that different combinations of the four informal governance mechanisms called trust, reputation, cooperation culture, joint sanctions and network power will have positive or negative effects on the knowledge flow in the enterprise innovation network, and the driving mechanism of knowledge flow has causal asymmetry. It also finds out several paths lead to high knowledge flow, such as carrot and stick, governance+authority and cooperation culture leading, which has certain implications for the sustainable development of innovation network and the promotion of enterprise competitiveness.