Networking Capability, Business Networks Structure, and Commercialization Performance in Knowledge-Based Companies (Case Study: Isfahan Province Knowledge-Based Companies)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Management, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran

2 Department of Management, Najafabad branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran

3 Faculty of Industrial Management, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

One of the most important challenges for knowledge-based companies in Iran is to improve the commercialization process and most of these companies have difficulty to achieve the desired commercialization performance. While the importance of business networks is emphasized in the literature on commercialization, the role of networking capabilities for the effective management of network communications to improve commercialization performance has not been investigated. There is little insight, in particular, into the fact that companies can better manage their networking capabilities by considering the networks structure for successful commercialization. Based on Resource-Based View (RBV) and the business networks approach as a theoretical lens, the present study tries to identify the indigenous dimensions of networking capability through a mixed-methods approach. And in the next step, by presenting the model, the direct and indirect effect of this capability on the commercialization performance will be determined. According to the results, the fit of the proposed model was confirmed in terms of measurement, structural and  general models. The results also showed that networking capability and its dimensions have a positive and significant effect on commercialization performance. In addition, the mediating role of business networks structure in the relationship between networking capability and commercialization performance was confirmed.

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