The Effects of Social Capital and Knowledge on Small US Firm New Product Development Innovations

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Published: Dec 13, 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24840/2183-0606_010.003_0001
Issue: Vol. 10 No. 3 (2022)
Keywords:
knowledge acquisition, absorption capacity, social interaction, networking, new product innovations

Main Article Content

Nancy J. Miller
Colorado State University
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4610-7589
Carol Engel-Enright
Colorado State University
David A. Brown
Colorado State University

Abstract

Studies have highlighted the benefits of external knowledge building as a means of heightening a firm’s innovation activities. Simultaneously supply chain scholars have highlighted the lack of focus on social facets at the micro behavioral level, as well as the limited endeavors to build upon existing theories for new perspectives. Taking an exploratory approach to addressing literature gaps, the objectives of this research involve integrating constructs from social capital theory and the knowledge-based view of the firm to examine associations and interactions among network ties, social interactions, knowledge absorptive capacity, and knowledge acquisition in the development of new product innovations by US apparel and sewn products manufacturers (N=125). Quantitative data were collected via an online survey of both a national and state sample of small sized manufacturers. Findings regarding new product development indicated: positive associations for network ties, social interactions, knowledge absorptive capacity, and knowledge acquisition; network ties and knowledge acquisition; mediated relationships with social interaction and absorptive capacity; and moderated social interaction relationships with absorptive capacity and network ties­. These empirical insights highlight the importance of building external relationships for generating knowledge in amplifying innovation. Theoretical contributions, managerial implications, limitations and suggestions for future research are presented.  

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Author Biographies

Nancy J. Miller, Colorado State University

Dr. Nancy J. Miller is a professor in the Department of Design and Merchandising and has conducted thirty years of collaborative research involving family businesses, exchange in rural marketplaces, and with a variety of business networks both existing and emerging. In addition to qualitative and quantitative investigations in the context of rural and small communities, her work has focused on the socio-economic aspects of micro to medium sized apparel retailers and U.S. manufacturing firms. National funding support for her research has been provided by the USDA’s National Research Initiative, USDA’s Fund for Rural America, and the National Science Foundation’s Science of Organizations Program. 

Carol Engel-Enright, Colorado State University

Dr. Carol Engel-Enright has forty years of experience in small apparel design and manufacturing businesses. Her work and research include small business entrepreneurship and free-lance design working with small businesses. She founded the Denver Design Incubator, which works with new enterprises in product development and small industrial manufacturing. She has worked with co-design projects for international artisans and fair-trade organizations in contemporary product development and manufacturing. She also founded the Rural Colorado Apparel Manufacturing organization and collaborated with manufacturing publishers for the Colorado Apparel Manufacturing Summit.

David A. Brown, Colorado State University

David A. Brown is a Ph.D. candidate in Statistics at Colorado State University and a graduate student collaborator in the Graybill Statistics and Data Science Laboratory at Colorado State University. His research focuses on survey statistics, specifically nonresponse adjustments and evaluating adaptive designs for mixed-mode surveys.