关键词: 技术模块化, 供应商创新, 知识获取效率, 关系耦合, Technology Modularity, Supplier Innovation, Knowledge Acquisition efficiency, Relational coupling

Abstract: Technology modularity architecture has been changing inter-firm cooperation mode, deducing the uncertainty roused by environmental and cooperative complexity, accordingly decrease the interdependence between client and supplier compared with integrative architecture. Meanwhile, the inter-firm knowledge and information flow turned to be more precise, explicit and pertinent, which facilitate suppliers’ knowledge acquisition efficiency from their clients. These conditions inspire suppliers’ exploratory and innovative activities internally, rather than building social interdependence with clients for relational transactions. Furthermore, we discuss that relationship coupling is not excluded under this circumstances, and also create relational value by positively moderating the relationship between technology modular and suppliers’ knowledge acquisition effectiveness. The empirical analysis of survey data from 162 suppliers supported the theoretical hypotheses. The theoretical and managerial applications are: first, while diminishes the alternative of cooperative innovation, modular architecture creates an opportunity for supplier to build competitive capabilities by implementing innovative activities internally. Second, supplier’s investment on relationships with clients under modular design has positive returns by enhancing the valuable knowledge acquisition, with no direct impact on supplier’s innovativeness.