Studies in Science of Science ›› 2022, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (6): 1063-1074.

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Influence mechanism of job autonomy on managers’ knowledge acquisition behavior of complex product R&D projects

  

  • Received:2021-06-25 Revised:2021-10-13 Online:2022-06-15 Published:2022-06-15

工作自主性对知识获取行为的影响机制———基于复杂产品研发项目管理者的证据

杜娟1,杨乃定2,王杜方玫3,3   

  1. 1. 西北工业大学
    2. 西北工业大学管理学院
    3.
  • 通讯作者: 杜娟

Abstract: Knowledge is the key resource to ensure the implementation of complex product development projects. The "gap" between the technical requirements of complex product R&D projects and organizational capabilities needs to be bridged by managers' acquisition of external knowledge. However, in order to avoid project risk and reduce organizational conflict, many project managers are reluctant to take the initiative on knowledge linkages. Therefore, improving the knowledge acquisition behavior of complex product R&D project managers has become an urgent problem to be solved in the field of innovation management. Most of the existing researches focus on the performance of knowledge acquisition, the antecedent analysis of knowledge acquisition behavior is insufficient and at a single level. How to coordinate and adapt among individuals, teams and organizations is still unclear, and the research level and focus perspective also need to be expanded. Therefore, based on the human-situation interaction model, job characteristics model and trait activation theory, this study proposes that job autonomy can improve the creative self-efficacy of the managers of complex products R&D project, and thus stimulate positive work behaviors. In order to verify the above hypothesis, the enterprises and institutions engaged in complex product system research or development in the eastern, central and western regions of China were randomly sampled and surveyed. The respondents who filled in the questionnaires were all managers of complex product R&D projects. A total of 320 questionnaires were sent out, 272 were received, and 245 were effective with an effective recovery of 76.56%. Then, SPSS was used to perform multicollinearity, reliability and validity test, correlation analysis, regression analysis and Bootstrap test. The results show that: (1) job autonomy promotes the knowledge acquisition behavior of complex product R&D project managers; (2) creative self-efficacy partially mediates the relationship between job autonomy and knowledge acquisition behavior;(3)network relationship quality can positively moderate the relationship between job autonomy and creative self-efficacy, the relationship between job autonomy and knowledge acquisition behavior, and the mediating role of creative self-efficacy between job autonomy and knowledge acquisition behavior. This study has some theoretical contributions: found the role of job autonomy in promoting knowledge acquisition behavior; the mediating role of creative self-efficacy between work autonomy and knowledge acquisition behavior is explored; the boundary function of network relationship quality in the above process is investigated. In addition, there are some practical implications: to appropriately grant more power to R&D project managers, implement humanized management, establish a relaxed working atmosphere, so as to generate their good psychological state and positive work behavior; to clear the responsibilities and rewards and punishments of R&D project managers, so that they have a specific direction of efforts, which can constantly enhance their ability and confidence in innovation management; attach importance to cooperative partnership, create a harmonious and pleasant communication atmosphere, establish a fair and reasonable conflict resolution mechanism, promote project members to consciously fulfill the contract, and enhance mutual trust and reciprocity. For future research prospects, it is suggested to expand the sample coverage to improve the universality of the research results. In order to improve the persuasiveness of the research conclusions, mediating variables can be added and panel data can be used in future studies.

摘要: 复杂产品研发项目管理者基于项目需求的知识获取行为对于实现项目目标至关重要,利用宽松的工作环境提升研发项目管理者的知识获取行为是创新管理的一种思路。通过对245份问卷数据的实证分析,探讨了工作自主性对复杂产品研发项目管理者知识获取行为的影响机制。研究发现,复杂产品研发项目管理团队的工作自主性正向影响其项目管理者的知识获取行为,项目管理者的创新自我效能感在上述关系中具有中介作用,项目组织间的网络关系质量既调节了工作自主性与项目管理者知识获取行为之间的关系,又调节了工作自主性与项目管理者创新自我效能感之间的关系,网络关系质量对项目管理者的创新自我效能感在工作自主性对其知识获取行为影响中的中介效应具有调节作用。研究结论对优化研发项目管理,加快复杂产品系统产业技术创新具有一定的启示。