Effects of Embeddedness and Structural Holes on Innovation Performance: The Moderating Role of Environmental Uncertainty

Effects of Embeddedness and Structural Holes on Innovation Performance: The Moderating Role of Environmental Uncertainty

Purpose: The ability of a firm to acquire resources through marketing networks is crucial for its competitiveness. Nonetheless, the influence of these networks on the performance of a firm’s innovation is still uncertain, particularly in the face of environmental uncertainty. This research investigates the impact of marketing networks, specifically network embeddedness and structural holes, on the performance of innovation in situations characterized by environmental uncertainty. Research design, data and methodology: The empirical examination was carried out within the framework of internal network entities, specifically the manufacturer-supplier-sub supplier relationships, involving the primary suppliers of a Korean engineering firm. Construct measures utilized in this study were derived from existing measures and prior research. A questionnaire survey was conducted with a major first-tier supplier of a Korean engineering firm. Proposed hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. Results: The survey findings suggest that only network embeddedness has an impact on the perception of major first-tier suppliers regarding the buyer's innovation performance. Conclusions: To strengthen the empirical evidence regarding the effects of marketing networks on innovation performance, future research should take into account cultural factors such as collectivism, which is indicative of the distinctive business-to-business marketing relationships observed in the Korean context.