The configuration and performance of international innovation networks: some evidence from the Chinese software industry

Abstract: Research in social networks has demonstrated that firms in changing environments will benefit from innovation networks. However, the lack of consensus on what factors and how these factors impact performance impedes further research in this area. In this paper, the concept of an International Innovation Network (IIN) and its performance is clarified. Then, based on reviews of the social network and knowledge management literatures, along with the results of previous empirical studies, we clarify the relationships between the performance of a focal firm entering an IIN and each configuration, such as the network structure (range and density), network relationship (tie strength, duration and norm distance) and network position (centrality). We conduct a case study from the Chinese software industry to test our conclusions and then propose an integrative model. We also come up with some efforts that the firm can make in order to improve its performance. Finally, future research is discussed