The dual role of supply base knowledge in organizational integration and competitive performance
研究提出供应基础知识既作为提升采购战略影响力的工具性资源，又作为合法化采购角色的象征性资产，基于229家制造企业数据验证其对战略参与、供应商整合及企业绩效的促进作用。
While prior research has established the instrumental role of supply base knowledge (SBK) –a buying firm’s internally accumulated knowledge of its suppliers’ capabilities, resources, and performance – in decision-making, its potential to elevate the strategic influence of the purchasing function through symbolic value remains underexplored. This study introduces a novel dual-role framework, positioning SBK both as an instrumental resource that enhances purchasing’s purchasing’s impact on strategic decision-making and as a symbolic asset that legitimizes its role within the organization. Using data from 229 manufacturing plants across 15 countries, we apply PLS-SEM analysis to examine these mechanisms. Our findings reveal that SBK not only enhances purchasing’s strategic involvement and firm performance but also serves as a key enabler for supplier integration in NPD. By distinguishing between instrumental and symbolic knowledge use, this study extends prior literature on purchasing knowledge and internal integration, offering a more nuanced perspective on how firms can leverage SBK for both competitive advantage and organizational legitimacy.