The Coupling Relationship And Synchrony Evolving Between The Strength Of Network Tie And The Mode Of Innovation

High degree uncertainty of market and quick changing of technology along with the flourish of globalization make the relationship among firms have been transformed from pure competition to competition and collaboration, for it is much more difficult for a firm to master the latest knowledge and develop all technology alone. Constructing technological innovation network with innovation partners is playing an important role in promoting technological innovation capability continuously for Chinese corporations. Existing theories have already discussed the influence of network tie on technological innovation and addressed the diversified network characters that can raise innovation performance effectively. However, there still existing some questions in the relationship of network strength to technological innovation performance: First, whether strong tie or weak tie beneficial for technological innovation is still remaining in debating, leading to "embedded ties paradox"; Second, the influence mechanism of network strength to technological innovation performance is not clear; Third, the technological innovation network research is often criticized for insufficient dynamic analysis and absence of dynamic evolution research on relationship of network characteristics with technology innovation.Based on social network theory, organization learning theory and technological innovation theory, starting from strength of network tie, this study aims to answer the basic question of "how network tie strength influences technological innovation performance", and also analyses the types of technological innovation, influence mechanism of network tie on technological innovation, the coupling relationship between tie strength and technological innovation, and network tie evolution.Through theoretical and empirical analysis, four main conclusions are found in the study:(1)On the basis qualitative study, we develop and test the scale of network tie strength which includes 22 indicators. After being adjusted and tested in qualitativestudy, final scale includes four dimensions: amount of time, resources input,scope of commutation,reciprocal services, with 13 indicators. In the empirical study, thereliability and validity of the scale shows well. The results give strong supports to the theoretical hypothesis and conceptual model developed in our study.(2) This paper divided technological innovation into radical innovation and incremental innovation based on the degree of innovation. Through theoretical and empirical analysis, we found that weak tie is beneficial for radical innovation and strong tie is beneficial for incremental innovation with the definition of coupling relationship.(3) In the effectiveness mechanism of strength of network tie to technological innovation, weak tie is beneficial for radical innovation indirectly through the mediating role of exploration learning, while strong tie is beneficial for incremental innovation indirectly through the mediating role of exploitation learning. Besides, environmental dynamics acts as a moderate factor in the influence mechanism of network tie strength on organization learning. From the analysis of organization learning and environmental dynamics, we find the diversified effectiveness mechanism of network tie strength to technological innovation.(4) Based on case study of the Hisun' s experience of 50 - year technological innovation network, this study reach the conclusion that the proportion of strong tie is increasing, although the strength of network tie is a continuous variable, which becoming stronger or weaker with the change of strategic environment. With the development of expiration learning and incremental innovation, the tripling relationship and synchrony evolving among network tie, organization learning and mode of innovation.Overall, based on theoretical and empirical analysis of "strength of network tie -organization learning - technological innovation", three major progress are achieved in this study: first, using qualitative and quantitative analysis, testing the scale of network tie strength, and gaining an indicator index of corporate network tie strength; second, explaining the reason of network tie "embedded ties paradox" lies in , the coupling relationship between strength of network tie and mode of innovation, and analyzing the coupling relationship through organization learning and environmental dynamics; third, from the dynamic perspective, putting forward the synchrony evolving between strength of network tie and mode of technological innovation, combining with the empirical study of Hisun's experience of 50-year technological innovation, developing the study frame of relationship between tie strength and technological innovation; fourth, based on the coupling relationship and synchrony evolving between strength of network tie and mode of innovation, putting forward network governace policy of technological innovation capability continuously, while providing some practical guidance.Of course, regardless of some academic attainments, the study still remains many shortcomings. In the last part of this paper, the author presents the limitations of this study and several issues that need to be studied in the future.