Drawing from social network theory with dual embeddedness and dual ties perspectives, the main purpose of this study is to examine the differing influences of weak ties and strong ties in the supply chain network and competitive network on potential and realised absorptive capacity. According to the empirical results, the weak ties both in the supply chain network and competitive network are positively related to a firm’s potential absorptive capacity, while weak ties in the competitive network are more powerful in improving potential capability. The strong ties both in the supply chain network and competitive network are positively related to a firm’s realised absorptive capability, while strong ties in the supply chain network are more effective in realised absorptive capability. Besides, complementary term (the product term of potential absorptive capacity and realised absorptive capacity) has significant effects on a firm’s innovative performance. Finally, we discuss implications of this research and offer suggestions for future research.

本研究借鉴双重嵌入和双重关系视角的社会网络理论，主要考察供应链网络和竞争网络中弱关系和强关系对潜在吸收能力和已实现吸收能力的不同影响。实证结果表明，供应链网络和竞争网络中的弱关系与企业潜在吸收能力呈正相关，而竞争网络中的弱关系对潜在能力的提升作用更大。供应链网络和竞争网络中的强联系与企业的实现吸收能力正相关，而供应链网络中的强联系更有效地实现了吸收能力。除了，互补项（潜在吸收能力与实际吸收能力的乘积项）对企业创新绩效有显着影响。最后，我们讨论了这项研究的意义，并为未来的研究提供了建议。