前瞻性外部知识搜索对突破性绿色技术创新的影响

The Impact of Proactive External Knowledge Search on Radical Green Technology Innovation

突破性绿色技术创新是企业高质量发展的重要途径,然而关于前瞻性外部知识搜索影响突破性绿色技术创新的机理仍不明晰。以我国制造企业为研究对象,运用知识基础观和动态能力理论,探讨前瞻性外部知识搜索对企业突破性绿色技术创新的影响,分析绿色动态能力的中介作用和环境规制的调节作用。结果表明:前瞻性外部知识搜索不仅对突破性绿色技术创新具有显著正向影响,而且对绿色环境适应能力、绿色知识吸收能力和绿色资源整合能力具有显著正向影响;绿色环境适应能力、绿色知识吸收能力和绿色资源整合能力对突破性绿色技术创新均具有显著正向影响,并且在前瞻性外部知识搜索与突破性绿色技术创新之间起完全中介作用;环境规制正向调节前瞻性外部知识搜索与绿色环境适应能力、绿色知识吸收能力以及绿色资源整合能力的关系。

The knowledge-based view suggests that knowledge is the foundation of innovation,and firms should search for external knowledge,especially complex and key technical knowledge,to eliminate environmental pollution,thereby realizing radical green technology innovation.Thus,it is necessary to clarify the impact of proactive external knowledge search on radical green technology innovation.Moreover,firms should also have green dynamic capability,i.e.,the ability to absorb,integrate,and reconfigure internal and external green resources.Green dynamic capability can facilitate firms to maximize the utilization of external knowledge,and scan new market opportunities.However,existing studies have mainly analyzed the mediating factors between knowledge search and innovation,such as knowledge integration,absorptive capacity,and organizational resilience.It is still unclear what role green dynamic capability plays in radical green technology innovation.Therefore,it is worth exploring whether and how green dynamic capability mediates the relationship between proactive external knowledge search and radical green technology innovation.Strategic management experts propose that the impact of internal knowledge on firms'decisions depends on certain external conditions.When firms perceive strong external environmental regulation,they are more willing to search for cutting-edge knowledge to enhance their green dynamic capability.Hence,environmental regulation may play a moderating role between proactive external knowledge search and green dynamic capability.Drawing on knowledge-based view and dynamic capabilities theory,this study divides green dynamic capability into three dimensions,namely green environment adaptive capability,green knowledge absorptive capability and green resource integration capability,explores the impact of proactive external knowledge search on radical green technology innovation,and discusses the mediating role of different types of green dynamic capability and the moderating role of environmental regulation.On the basis of a sample of 245 manufacturing firms,the empirical results indicate that proactive external knowledge search not only has a significant positive impact on radical green technology innovation,but also has a significant positive impact on green environment adaptive capability,green knowledge absorptive capability and green resource integration capability.Moreover,green environment adaptive capability,green knowledge absorptive capability and green resource integration capability have significant positive effects on radical green technology innovation,and also play a mediating role between proactive external knowledge search and radical green technology innovation,respectively.The results reveal that environmental regulation positively moderates the relationships between proactive external knowledge search and green environment adaptive capability,green knowledge absorptive capability,and green resource integration capability.This study contributes to the literature in three ways.First,it clarifies the positive impact of proactive external knowledge search on radical green technology innovation based on the knowledge-based view.The result emphasizes the key role of proactive external knowledge search in radical green technology innovation,and enriches the antecedent research on radical green technology innovation.Second,according to dynamic capabilities theory,this study puts forward three types of green dynamic capability,i.e.,green environment adaptive capability,green knowledge absorptive capability and green resource integration capability.The study finds that each type of green dynamic capability plays a full mediating role between proactive external knowledge search and radical green technology innovation,which further reveals the important impact of green dynamic capability on radical green technology innovation,extends the application field of green dynamic capability,and provides a new insight for the relationship between proactive external knowledge search and radical green technology innovation.Third,this study uncovers that environmental regulation plays a positive moderating role between proactive external knowledge search and green dynamic capability,and explains the mechanism of proactive external knowledge search on radical green technology innovation via green dynamic capability and environmental regulation.The management implications are discussed.First,manufacturing firms should actively search for cutting-edge knowledge across boundaries to enrich and update their knowledge base.Second,manufacturing firms should enhance green dynamic capability.Specifically,firms should not only establish information collection agencies to maintain close contact with the market and government,but also regularly hold special seminars and training related to green environmental protection to strengthen communication between different departments,thus enhancing green dynamic capability.Third,they should actively respond to the call for environmental protection,produce products meeting the requirements of green environmental protection,adjust their resources and capabilities in a timely manner,and strengthen green dynamic capability.