Purpose

This study aims to investigate how the inter-organizational learning (inter-OL) of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) promote intra-organizational learnings (intra-OL) and how inter- and intra-OL jointly promote organizational innovation in the Korean electronics industry. This study also examines the moderating effect of organizational dynamism.

Design/methodology/approach

A unique theoretical model shows how inter-OL promotes organizational innovation through intra-OL, knowledge flows and stocks. Data was collected from 201 SMEs in the Korean electronics industry and analyzed by structural equation modeling.

Findings

The findings show that inter-OL directly and indirectly influences innovation. Inter-OL promotes both knowledge flows and stocks, but the only feedforward flows influence innovation through knowledge stocks while feedback flows directly influence innovation. Additionally, the study finds an indirect effect of inter-OL on knowledge stocks and a strong direct effect on innovation when dynamism is high. Intra-OL activities fully mediate between inter-OL and innovation when dynamism is low.

Research limitations/implications

This study uses single informants to measure all constructs. Future studies should use multiple informants.

Practical implications

This study shows that OL in SMEs is shaped by internal processes and external collaborations. Maintaining a connection with various external knowledge sources and creating collaborative opportunities to share learning experiences is critical to innovation.

Originality/value

This study is the first to empirically examine the relationship between inter- and intra-OL activities within a conceptual framework. The study provides a strategic view of how to facilitate OL activities considering the degree of organizational dynamism.

中文翻译：

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组织间和组织内学习活动对中小企业创新的影响：环境活力的调节作用

目的

本研究旨在调查中小企业 (SME) 的组织间学习 (inter-OL) 如何促进组织内学习 (intra-OL) 以及跨组织和内部 OL 如何共同促进韩国电子行业的组织创新。行业。本研究还考察了组织活力的调节作用。

设计/方法/方法

独特的理论模型展示了跨 OL 如何通过内部 OL、知识流和库存促进组织创新。从韩国电子行业的 201 家中小企业收集数据，并通过结构方程模型进行分析。

发现

研究结果表明，inter-OL 直接和间接地影响创新。Inter-OL 促进知识流和存量，但唯一的前馈流通过知识存量影响创新，而反馈流直接影响创新。此外，该研究发现，当活力高时，OL 间对知识存量的间接影响和对创新的强烈直接影响。当活力较低时，OL 内部活动完全在内部 OL 和创新之间起到中介作用。

研究限制/影响

本研究使用单个信息提供者来衡量所有结构。未来的研究应该使用多个知情人。

实际影响

这项研究表明，中小企业的 OL 受内部流程和外部合作的影响。保持与各种外部知识来源的联系并创造协作机会来分享学习经验对于创新至关重要。

原创性/价值

这项研究是第一个在概念框架内实证检验 OL 间和内部 OL 活动之间的关系的研究。该研究提供了如何在考虑组织活力程度的情况下促进 OL 活动的战略观点。