• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.83-111
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• 2009

Despite the growing emphasis on the importance of knowledge exchange among supply chain participants, few companies have fully exploited the knowledge resources held by their supply chain partners. Among many reasons for this phenomenon, recent literature on inter-firm knowledge exchange identifies knowledge complementarities between the supply channel partners as an important determinant of knowledge exchange. Firms participating in a supply chain are likely to exchange partners' complementary knowledge. In order to extract value from them, it is important to recognize the difference between the potential value and the implementation of this potential value. However, the literature fails to distinguish between potential knowledge complementarities and implemented knowledge complementarities. In order to realize the value of potential knowledge complementarities, knowledge should be exchanged and effectively integrated in the supply channel. Further, investigating inter-firm knowledge exchange from both partners' perspectives is important especially when there are interdependencies between the channel partners. The purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of potential knowledge complementarities on knowledge exchange in buyer-supplier relationships by looking at both partners' perspectives. This research also includes trust in partner's competence and inter-organizational information systems (IOIS) as they are relevant when the complementary knowledge flows between organizations. The data required for this field study was collected from 70 buyers and their suppliers in three multinational enterprises in two different industries (Automobile manufacturing and Telecommunication services) headquartered in Korea. The results indicate that potential knowledge complementarities between buyer and supplier do not directly influence knowledge exchange, but indirectly through trust in partner's competence. And the results indicate that competence-based trust and IOIS have direct effects on knowledge exchange. Empirical results also show that IOIS moderates the relationship between potential knowledge complementarities and knowledge exchange. This study is a first attempt to empirically verify the theoretical model about potential knowledge complementarities and to investigate the impact of potential knowledge complementarities on interfirm knowledge exchange. From a theoretical perspective, this study not only clarifies the distinction between potential knowledge complementarities and implemented knowledge complementarities, but also develops an instrument to measure the concept of potential knowledge complementarities in the context of operational and planning knowledge in a supply chain. Further, we develop a theoretical framework suggesting that potential knowledge complementarities of partners in a supply chain affect knowledge exchange directly and indirectly through competence-based trust. The findings from this study have some managerial implications for practicing managers as well. First, buyers should search for suppliers that have potential complementary knowledge, which can be integrated to create synergy through interfirm knowledge exchange. Furthermore, firms must develop mechanisms to identify potential complementary knowledge of partners. Second, firms should continue their endeavor to develop their own unique knowledge so that their knowledge can benefit the entire supply channel. Finally, trust among supply chain partners turns out to be an important factor for interfirm knowledge exchange. Therefore, effective management for engendering trustworthy buyer-supplier relationships should receive appropriate attention from managers.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.107-132
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• 2013

Despite the importance of knowledge complementarities (KC) to firm performance, very little is known about exactly what constitutes KC and how synergistic knowledge is created in KC. This research looks into the dimensionality of KC and how synergistic knowledge as an essential component of KC is generated in a process innovation (PI) project. We propose that KC consists of potential complementary knowledge, collaborative elaboration (CE) process, and synergistic knowledge. The model is investigated quantitatively, using a sample of 26 matched-pairs of client and consultant who participated in a PI project, and then qualitatively using interviews of a sub-sample of 7 matched-pairs of client and consultant. Data were collected in a longitudinal way at four different points during the four month project period. Results show that consultant's learning about the client's business occurs first and then client learning about IT capabilities follows through CE. With this enhanced clients' knowledge about IT capabilities, clients play an initiative role in designing the To-Be business processes, while consultants play a supporting role by introducing best practices or making suggestions based on their experiences. Future research implications as well as practical implications are also discussed.

• The Journal of Society for e-Business Studies
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.95-118
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• 2014

The information technologies industry is now experiencing a rebirth of strong stable growth. However, very few studies have examined performance implications of strategic alliance or merger and acquisition from a knowledge-based view. Furthermore, none of these studies have investigated resource complementarities and alliance or merger and acquisition motive as potential sources of firm performance. This paper extends upon current knowledge-based literature to discover and explore linkages between resource complementarities and firm performance of strategic alliances or merger acquisitions. This study finds that strategic alliance and merger and acquisition announcements have provided abnormal positive returns of production alliances and merger and acquisition. This study can be used as a stepping stone for selection of strategic alliance or merger and acquisition.