Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to scrutinize the existing literature and provide a comprehensive overview by compiling and synthesizing the dispersed body of knowledge in the networking capability (NC) literature stream. Therefore, this review study contributes to the research by presenting a summary of the NC complex construct.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors have tried to cover the literature gap in the NC area through a systematic review.

Findings

The theoretical contributions of this study to the NC literature stream are fourfold. First, while critically reviewing existing definitions, the authors present an integrated definition of NC. Second, the authors delineate the conceptual boundary between NC and other similar capabilities. Third, the authors found that the focal firms’ NC consists of two key dimensions: network development capability (NDC) and network management capability (NMC). Fourth, they contribute to the literature by providing a set of suggestions for further research in the NC literature stream.

Research limitations/implications

This study has some limitations, like other review studies. First, although the authors have tried their best to conduct a comprehensive literature search, they may have missed a study. Second, it should be noted that this study has confined itself to a particular stream of literature. Undoubtedly, in other streams, there will be issues similar to the concepts discussed in this study. The main purpose of this study is to integrate a series of studies that have a common theoretical foundation and fall within a particular literature stream. Although the focus of this study may be positive, it can be said that the deprivation of achievements from other similar streams is one of the limitations of this study. Third, another limitation of this study is the lack of verification of the conceptual framework derived from the literature that needs to be addressed in future research.

Practical implications

This study suggests a set of practical implications for industrial managers. First, the authors summarize the firms’ capabilities needed to develop and manage networks in one single source. Based on the conceptual framework of this study, firms can develop managerial tools, technological options, checklists and questionnaires and monitor the status of NC in their surrounding network on an ongoing basis. Second, the present research shows that some NCs are more repetitive than others, and therefore, it can be said that managers should pay more attention to them. The critical NCs, such as determining network position, determining network size, partner selection and attraction, coordination, inter-firm knowledge sharing and conflict resolution, are included in this study. Third, the argument of this study that both NDC and NMC should be considered simultaneously can be thought of as an important practical implication. Although in terms of the network life cycle, NDC is required earlier than NMC, these two capabilities should be used in parallel. Managers should not expect network development to be perfect and then network management to begin; therefore, NMCs should be used during network development.

Originality/value

Research shows that most network studies focus more on network antecedents and outputs and less on processes and related capabilities. Some researchers have made few efforts to identify and scrutinize capabilities related to business relationships. In this context, IMP scholars have introduced NC to emphasize the network perspective. Despite the considerable conceptual and empirical richness, the existence of different nomenclatures and theoretical diversity in NC literature has led to conceptual ambiguity and a lack of consensus on this crucial complex construct.

中文翻译：

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网络能力：文献和未来研究议程的系统回顾

目的

本文的目的是审查现有文献，并通过编译和综合网络能力 (NC) 文献流中分散的知识体来提供全面的概述。因此，本综述研究通过对 NC 复合体结构的总结为研究做出贡献。

设计/方法/方法

作者试图通过系统评价来弥补 NC 领域的文献空白。

发现

本研究对 NC 文献流的理论贡献有四方面。首先，在批判性地审查现有定义的同时，作者提出了 NC 的综合定义。其次，作者描绘了 NC 和其他类似功能之间的概念边界。第三，作者发现焦点企业的NC包括两个关键维度：网络开发能力（NDC）和网络管理能力（NMC）。第四，他们通过为 NC 文献流中的进一步研究提供一套建议来为文献做出贡献。

研究限制/影响

与其他综述研究一样，这项研究有一些局限性。首先，虽然作者已经尽力进行全面的文献检索，但他们可能错过了一项研究。其次，应该指出的是，这项研究仅限于特定的文献流。毫无疑问，在其他流中，也会存在与本研究讨论的概念类似的问题。本研究的主要目的是整合一系列具有共同理论基础并属于特定文献流的研究。虽然本研究的重点可能是积极的，但可以说，从其他类似的流中剥夺成就是本研究的局限性之一。第三，

实际影响

这项研究对工业管理者提出了一系列实际意义。首先，作者总结了公司在单一来源中开发和管理网络所需的能力。基于本研究的概念框架，公司可以开发管理工具、技术选项、检查表和问卷，并持续监控其周围网络中 NC 的状态。其次，目前的研究表明，一些NC比其他NC更具有重复性，因此，可以说管理者应该更加关注它们。本研究包括关键的 NC，例如确定网络位置、确定网络规模、合作伙伴选择和吸引力、协调、公司间知识共享和冲突解决。第三，本研究认为 NDC 和 NMC 应同时考虑的论点可以被认为是一个重要的实践意义。虽然在网络生命周期方面，NDC比NMC更早需要，但这两个能力应该并行使用。管理者不应期望网络发展完善，然后网络管理才开始；因此，在网络开发过程中应使用 NMC。

原创性/价值

研究表明，大多数网络研究更多地关注网络前因和输出，而不是过程和相关能力。一些研究人员很少努力识别和审查与业务关系相关的能力。在此背景下，IMP 学者引入 NC 以强调网络视角。尽管有相当多的概念和经验丰富，但 NC 文献中不同命名法和理论多样性的存在导致概念模糊和对这个关键的复杂结构缺乏共识。