The Research On IT Capability Affecting Open Innovation Performance

Knowledge is the most important strategic sources and the sources of innovation.With the competitive development,more and more firms begin to recognize that it is difficult to acquire competitive advantage through internal knowledge.Thus,firms tend to acquire external knowledge through open innovation,such as human capital,technology,and so on.As we known,information technology(IT)not only makes a firm to acquire external knowledge,but also manages internal knowledge.Therefore,the topic on the relationship between IT and open innovation becomes more important in theory and practice.Based on firm capability theory,this paper constructs a theoretical model including IT capability,knowledge integration capability,firm social capital,learning orientation and open innovation performance.Through 232 surveys,hypotheses are tested.The empirical results reveal the relationship between variables,and verify the theoretical model.Compared to previous literature,this paper has some implications from the following aspects:First,research 1 gives the effect of IT capability(internal IT capability and external IT capability)on open innovation performance.Although prior research pays attention on the topic about IT and open innovation,there are some gaps.On the one hand,previous research considers the effect of some factors(such as organization capability and knowledge management)on open innovation.However,few empirical research pays attention on the relationship between IT and open innovation.On the other hand,previous literature gives the different definitions and dimensions of IT capability from diversity perspectives,there are mix results.Based on firm capability theory,this paper suggests that IT capability which is divided into internal IT capability and external IT capability,has an important effect on open innovation performance.Empirical results indicate thatboth internal IT capability and external IT capability have positive effect on open innovation performance.Therefor,this study extends the research on IT capability,and has some benefits for open innovation.Second,research 2 considers knowledge integration capability as a mediator in the relationship between IT capability and open innovation performance.Based on firm capability theory,IT capability,as low-level capability,has an effect on open innovation performance through high-level capability,such as knowledge integration capability.Based on this,this paper structures the relationship of IT capability,knowledge integration capability and open innovation performance.Moreover,knowledge integration capability is divided into three dimensions,namely systems capability,socialization capability and coordination capability.The empirical results suggest that both systems capability and socialization capability play complete mediator role in the relationship between internal IT capability and open innovation performance.Coordination capability has not a mediator role in the relationship between internal IT capability and open innovation performance.Meanwhile,both systems capability and socialization capability play partial mediator role in the relationship between external IT capability and open innovation performance.Coordination capability has not a mediator role in the relationship between external IT capability and open innovation performance.Therefore,this paper deepens the effect of IT capability on open innovation performance,and provides the theoretical framework for practice.Third,research 3 considers the moderator role of firm social capital and learning orientation in the relationship between IT capability and open innovation performance.Previous research considers the external context factors in the IT business value,ignoring the internal context factors.Based on firm capability theory,this paper considers internal and external environment factors to extend the relationship between IT capability and open innovation performance.More specifically,this research examines the moderator role of firm social capital and learning orientation in the relationship between ITcapability and open innovation performance.The empirical results indicate that firm internal social capital does not play a moderator role in the relationship between internal IT capability and open innovation performance;firm internal social capital plays a moderator role in the relationship between external IT capability and open innovation performance.Firm external social capital and learning orientation play a moderator role in the relationship between internal IT capability and open innovation performance;firm external social capital and learning orientation do not play a moderator role in the relationship between external IT capability and open innovation performance.Therefore,this research extends the research on boundary factor of the relationship between IT capability and open innovation performance.Meanwhile,this paper has an important implications for practice.