Inbound Open Innovation in Construction Firms: Intellectual Capital Antecedents and Performance Consequences

Research on open innovation in the construction industry is limited, particularly regarding the antecedents facilitating inbound open innovation and its implications for firm performance. This study examined the influence of intellectual capital (IC) on inbound open innovation (Inbound OI) and its subsequent impact on the performance of construction firms. Additionally, it explored the role of inbound OI in translating intellectual capital into firm performance. Data were collected from 130 construction contracting and consulting firms in Ghana through a survey. Structural equation modelling results indicate that human capital and structural capital directly influence inbound OI, while relational capital does not. Inbound OI positively affects firm performance (FP) linearly but shows a curvilinear (inverted U-shaped) relationship with FP at higher levels of inbound OI. Inbound OI partially mediates the effects of human and structural capital on FP but does not mediate the relationship between relational capital and FP. This study contributes to literature on open innovation by showing the influence of intangible knowledge assets on construction firm’s inbound OI activities. It also shows the intermediary role of inbound open innovation in linking three IC dimensions with FP, hence the path dependent processes to enhance performance through intellectual capital to facilitate inbound OI.

关于建筑行业开放式创新的研究相对有限，特别是在促进内部开放式创新的前因及其对企业绩效影响方面。本研究探讨了智力资本（IC）对内部开放式创新（Inbound OI）的影响及其对企业绩效的后续影响，并探讨了内部开放式创新在将智力资本转化为企业绩效中的作用。数据通过调查收集自加纳130家建筑承包和咨询公司。结构方程模型的结果表明，人力资本和结构资本直接影响内部开放式创新，而关系资本则不然。内部开放式创新对企业绩效（FP）具有正向线性影响，但在较高水平的内部开放式创新中，其与企业绩效的关系呈现曲线形（倒U形）。内部开放式创新部分中介了人力和结构资本对企业绩效的影响，但并未中介关系资本与企业绩效之间的关系。本研究通过展示无形知识资产对建筑企业内部开放式创新活动的影响，丰富了开放式创新领域的文献。它还揭示了内部开放式创新在连接三个智力资本维度与企业绩效之间的中介作用，从而揭示了通过智力资本促进内部开放式创新以提升绩效的路径依赖过程。