Network Embeddedness, Integration and Modularity Capabilities, and Innovation Performance: A Complex Product Systems Perspective1
基于184家中国物联网复杂产品系统企业数据，研究内部合作、外部协调和技术依赖如何影响集成与模块化能力，进而影响创新绩效，发现外部协调在能力平衡时效果最佳。
Inter-organizational relationships are critical components of complex innovation networks and strongly shape the innovation of the complex product systems (CoPS). Yet existing research has seldom compared how different types of inter-organizational relationships affect organizational capabilities and innovation performance in CoPS projects. Drawing on network embeddedness and resource theories, this study proposes a resource-capability-performance (RCP) framework to examine how internal cooperation, external coordination, and technological dependence influence integration capability, modularity capability, and innovation performance. Using survey data from 184 Chinese Internet of Things (IoT) CoPS firms, we adopt a mixed-method design, containing structural equation modeling, an order parameter model, and an illustrative case study, to capture both static and dynamic effects. The results show that internal cooperation and external coordination strengthen integration capability, external coordination also promotes modularity capability, while technological dependence weakens integration capability. Integration capability has a strong positive effect on innovation performance, whereas modularity capability can reduce innovation performance when it is not aligned with integration capability. Dynamic analysis further indicates that external coordination improves innovation performance most when integration capability and modularity capability are relatively balanced. The study extends network embeddedness research to CoPS projects, demonstrates the value of the RCP framework for linking relationships, capabilities, and performance, and provides practical guidance on configuring inter-organizational ties and capability portfolios in large scale engineering projects.