Purpose

The main goal of the paper is to describe the knowledge interconnection process embedded in an interactive business relationship. The purpose of this study is to understand the knowledge interconnection inside the supplier-buyer relationship in the field of contract manufacturing. The knowledge interconnection process is defined by the authors as a process linked to business relationships, which contains different types of knowledge and various sub-processes related to them.

Design/methodology/approach

The Industrial Marketing and Purchasing Group (IMP) research framework has been applied and the contribution is a better understanding of the role of knowledge in the interactive business world. The empirical evidence is based on a case study of a Hungarian contract manufacturing company. This paper describes empirical, qualitative research about knowledge interconnection processes applying an abductive research design.

Findings

The knowledge interconnection process is linked to business relationships. It is a complex process, which contains three types of knowledge and five sub-processes. The knowledge evolution indicates the links between the different types of knowledge. The sub-processes relate to different types of knowledge and allow the flow of knowledge between the supplier and the buyer. In the business relationship, this flow of knowledge makes possible the new knowledge creation. A model of the knowledge interconnection process has been developed.

Research limitations/implications

Single case studies can create rich descriptions of complex phenomena, but the possibility for generalization is limited. Another limitation is that the knowledge interconnection process has been studied only from the supplier’s perspective. The present research extends IMP’s knowledge of embedded knowledge. In addition, empirical research contributes to the emerging field of IMP research that explores knowledge as a resource but lacks an empirical foundation.

Practical implications

The knowledge interconnection process is a decisive factor in the development and maintenance of long-term customer relations in the field of contract manufacturing. The evolution of knowledge types – from the body of knowledge to knowledge in use – demands the management of different sub-processes. Knowledge selection, knowledge recombination, knowledge mobilization and new knowledge creation processes are more strongly related to the supplier-customer dyad, while the knowledge relocation process has a network character. The knowledge interconnection process influences the company’s body of knowledge and its relationship management capability.

Originality/value

The originality of the study is, on the one hand, an empirical examination of the process of knowledge interconnection. On the other hand, the development of a model of the knowledge interconnection process. A further feature is that empirical research has been conducted in the field of contract manufacturing.

中文翻译：

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知识互联过程：来自合同制造关系的证据

目的

本文的主要目标是描述嵌入在交互式业务关系中的知识互连过程。本研究的目的是了解合同制造领域供应商-采购商关系内部的知识互联。作者将知识互联过程定义为与业务关系相关联的过程，其中包含不同类型的知识以及与其相关的各种子过程。

设计/方法/方法

已应用工业营销和采购组 (IMP) 研究框架，其贡献是更好地理解知识在交互式商业世界中的作用。经验证据基于对一家匈牙利合同制造公司的案例研究。本文描述了关于应用溯因研究设计的知识互连过程的实证、定性研究。

发现

知识互联过程与业务关系相关联。它是一个复杂的过程，包含三类知识和五个子过程。知识演化表明了不同类型知识之间的联系。子过程涉及不同类型的知识，并允许供应商和买方之间的知识流动。在业务关系中，这种知识流动使新知识的创造成为可能。已经开发了知识互连过程的模型。

研究限制/影响

单一案例研究可以对复杂现象进行丰富的描述，但概括的可能性有限。另一个限制是知识互连过程仅从供应商的角度进行了研究。目前的研究扩展了 IMP 对嵌入式知识的了解。此外，实证研究有助于新兴的 IMP 研究领域，该领域将知识作为资源进行探索，但缺乏实证基础。

实际影响

知识互联过程是合同制造领域长期客户关系发展和维护的决定性因素。知识类型的演变——从知识体到使用中的知识——需要对不同的子过程进行管理。知识选择、知识重组、知识动员和新知识创造过程与供应商-客户二元组的相关性更强，而知识迁移过程具有网络性。知识互联过程影响公司的知识体系及其关系管理能力。

原创性/价值

研究的独创性，一方面是对知识互联过程的实证检验。另一方面，开发了知识互联过程的模型。另一个特点是在合同制造领域进行了实证研究。