A study of inter-firm network and knowledge integration impact mechanism on absorptive capacity

For local enterprises which Integration into the global manufacturing network, the importance of using external information has been increasingly paid attention by scholars. This paper propose and test a model of how inter-firm network effect firm´s absorptive capacity. Using data of manufacturing firms, the results indicate that Network centrality and size of network have significant positive effects on potential absorptive capacity of enterprises; the strength of network ties was no significant positive impact potential absorptive capacity of the enterprise. The empirical results suggest that the potential absorptive capacity has mediating effects on the relationships between firm network and firm´s realized absorptive capacity. In addition, coordination knowledge integration mechanism has moderation effects on the relationships between firm´s potential absorptive capacity and realized absorptive capacity.