{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,10]],"date-time":"2026-04-10T08:44:46Z","timestamp":1775810686527,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":50,"publisher":"Emerald","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,6,9]],"date-time":"2021-06-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1623196800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/site-policies"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IMDS"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2021,8,10]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Purpose<\/jats:title><jats:p>In the field of innovation, there is growing interest in exploring the factors that determine the extent to which firms can learn from external sources. However, most previous studies neglect the role of human factors. Little is known about which employee behaviors are desirable for boundary-spanning learning activities and which human resource management (HRM) practices are appropriate to respond to external knowledge transfer across boundaries. To fill this gap, the authors investigate the role of empowerment-focused HRM in interfirm learning and explore the integration of external inputs from the perspective of employees.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Design\/methodology\/approach<\/jats:title><jats:p>Based on empirical survey data collected from different countries, the authors test the proposed model with structural equation modeling.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Findings<\/jats:title><jats:p>The authors\u2019 findings indicate that empowerment-focused HRM practices, including job enrichment, job autonomy, teamwork and cross-functional communication, are positively associated with relationship learning.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Originality\/value<\/jats:title><jats:p>In this study, the authors present a theoretical explanation for how empowerment-focused HRM may influence firm's innovation through relationship learning process and provide empirical evidence regarding the specific HRM practices that can have different effects on the different phases of relationship learning.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1108\/imds-09-2020-0563","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,6,8]],"date-time":"2021-06-08T12:43:17Z","timestamp":1623156197000},"page":"1767-1783","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":10,"title":["The impact of empowerment-focused human resource management on relationship learning and innovation"],"prefix":"10.1108","volume":"121","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0635-2739","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Huiying","family":"Zhang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5654-9137","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Man","family":"Yang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0625-9537","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Baofeng","family":"Huo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"140","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,6,9]]},"reference":[{"issue":"1","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.1016\/S0272-6963(02)00056-6","article-title":"The impact of human resource management practices on operational performance: recognizing country and industry differences","volume":"21","year":"2003","journal-title":"Journal of Operations Management"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"528","DOI":"10.1111\/caim.12377","article-title":"Individual learning goal orientations in self-managed team-based organizations: a study on individual and contextual variables","volume":"29","year":"2020","journal-title":"Creativity and Innovation Management"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"311","DOI":"10.1111\/1748-8583.12067","article-title":"Bundles of HRM practices and performance: empirical evidence from a Latin American context","volume":"25","year":"2015","journal-title":"Human Resource Management Journal"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"218","DOI":"10.1016\/j.respol.2017.10.012","article-title":"The \u2018human side\u2019 of open innovation: the role of employee diversity in firm-level openness","volume":"47","year":"2018","journal-title":"Research Policy"},{"issue":"7","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1228","DOI":"10.1108\/PR-09-2016-0257","article-title":"HRM and innovative work behaviour: a systematic literature review","volume":"46","year":"2017","journal-title":"Personnel Review"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"200","DOI":"10.1108\/02651331011037520","article-title":"Relationship learning and performance enhancement via advanced information technology: the case of Taiwanese dragon electronics firms","volume":"27","year":"2010","journal-title":"International Marketing Review"},{"issue":"7","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1924","DOI":"10.1177\/0149206312466145","article-title":"Flexibility-oriented HRM systems, absorptive capacity, and market responsiveness and firm innovativeness","volume":"39","year":"2013","journal-title":"Journal of Management"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"152","DOI":"10.1016\/j.indmarman.2008.12.003","article-title":"The positive effects of relationship learning and absorptive capacity on innovation performance and competitive advantage in industrial markets","volume":"38","year":"2009","journal-title":"Industrial Marketing Management"},{"issue":"10","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref009","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1061","DOI":"10.1002\/smj.926","article-title":"The value of relational learning in global buyer-supplier exchanges: a dyadic perspective and test of the pie-sharing premise","volume":"32","year":"2011","journal-title":"Strategic Management Journal"},{"key":"key2021100714125291500_ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"128","DOI":"10.2307\/2393553","article-title":"Absorptive capacity: a new perspective on learning and innovation","volume":"35","year":"1990","journal-title":"Administrative Science Quarterly"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"544","DOI":"10.5465\/amj.2006.21794671","article-title":"Knowledge exchange and combination: the role of human resource practices in the performance of high-technology firms","volume":"49","year":"2006","journal-title":"Academy of Management Journal"},{"key":"key2021100714125291500_ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"334","DOI":"10.1016\/j.techfore.2017.07.014","article-title":"Social media, open innovation & HRM: implications for performance","volume":"144","year":"2019","journal-title":"Technological Forecasting and Social Change"},{"key":"key2021100714125291500_ref013","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"146","DOI":"10.1016\/j.indmarman.2018.05.001","article-title":"The dynamics of knowledge integration in collaborative product development: evidence from the capital goods industry","volume":"75","year":"2018","journal-title":"Industrial Marketing Management"},{"issue":"5","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref014","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"743","DOI":"10.1016\/j.indmarman.2011.02.005","article-title":"Relationship learning and innovation: the role of relationship-specific memory","volume":"40","year":"2011","journal-title":"Industrial Marketing Management"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref015","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"183","DOI":"10.1016\/j.emj.2017.08.003","article-title":"External knowledge search, absorptive capacity and radical innovation in high-technology firms","volume":"36","year":"2018","journal-title":"European Management Journal"},{"issue":"4","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref016","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"980","DOI":"10.1287\/orsc.1100.0584","article-title":"Linking customer interaction and innovation: the mediating role of new organizational practices","volume":"22","year":"2011","journal-title":"Organization Science"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"28","DOI":"10.1287\/inte.4.3.28","article-title":"Organization design: an information processing view","volume":"4","year":"1974","journal-title":"Interfaces"},{"key":"key2021100714125291500_ref018","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"201","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpe.2014.07.011","article-title":"Implementation of technology and production strategy practices: relationship levels in different industries","volume":"161","year":"2015","journal-title":"International Journal of Production Economics"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref019","first-page":"68","article-title":"Structure that's not stifling: how to give your people essential direction\u2014without shutting them down","volume":"96","year":"2018","journal-title":"Harvard Business Review"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref020","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"194","DOI":"10.1016\/j.respol.2017.10.008","article-title":"Organizational and human resource management and innovation: which management practices are linked to product and\/or process innovation?","volume":"47","year":"2018","journal-title":"Research Policy"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref021","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"41","DOI":"10.1177\/09500179922117782","article-title":"The myth of empowerment: work organisation, hierarchy and employee autonomy in contemporary Australian workplaces","volume":"13","year":"1999","journal-title":"Work, Employment and Society"},{"issue":"6","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref022","first-page":"1","article-title":"Cutoff criteria for fit indices in covariance structure analysis: conventional criteria versus new alternatives","year":"1999","journal-title":"Structural Equation Modeling"},{"issue":"7","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref023","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1167","DOI":"10.1016\/j.indmarman.2013.07.002","article-title":"Joint learning in R&D collaborations and the facilitating relational practices","volume":"42","year":"2013","journal-title":"Industrial Marketing Management"},{"key":"key2021100714125291500_ref024","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"132","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpe.2016.05.009","article-title":"The impact of human capital on supply chain integration and competitive performance","volume":"178","year":"2016","journal-title":"International Journal of Production Economics"},{"issue":"6","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref025","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"999","DOI":"10.5465\/amj.2005.19573106","article-title":"Managing potential and realized absorptive capacity: how do organizational antecedents matter?","volume":"48","year":"2005","journal-title":"Academy of Management Journal"},{"issue":"8","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref026","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1448","DOI":"10.1111\/joms.12057","article-title":"Where do we go from here? New perspectives on the black Box in strategic human resource management research","volume":"50","year":"2013","journal-title":"Journal of Management Studies"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref027","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"21","DOI":"10.1509\/jmkg.68.3.21.34765","article-title":"The role of relational knowledge stores in interfirm partnering","volume":"68","year":"2004","journal-title":"Journal of Marketing"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref028","first-page":"138","article-title":"Organisational and psychological empowerment in the HRM-performance linkage","volume":"34","year":"2012","journal-title":"Employee Relations"},{"issue":"4","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref029","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"833","DOI":"10.5465\/amr.2006.22527456","article-title":"The reification of absorptive capacity: a critical review and rejuvenation of the construct","volume":"31","year":"2006","journal-title":"Academy of Management Review"},{"key":"key2021100714125291500_ref030","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"241","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpe.2018.12.001","article-title":"Deploying human capital for innovation: a study of multi-country manufacturing firms","volume":"208","year":"2019","journal-title":"International Journal of Production Economics"},{"issue":"4","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref031","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1231","DOI":"10.1177\/0149206312438773","article-title":"Empowerment-fad or fab? A multilevel review of the past two decades of research","volume":"38","year":"2012","journal-title":"Journal of Management"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref032","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"70","DOI":"10.1080\/03043797.2012.742871","article-title":"Using social media to facilitate knowledge transfer in complex engineering environments: a primer for educators","volume":"38","year":"2013","journal-title":"European Journal of Engineering Education"},{"issue":"4","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref033","first-page":"67","article-title":"Sharing global supply chain knowledge","volume":"49","year":"2008","journal-title":"MIT Sloan Management Review"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref034","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"194","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jom.2009.11.001","article-title":"The globalization of operations in Eastern and Western countries: unpacking the relationship between national and organizational culture and its impact on manufacturing performance","volume":"28","year":"2010","journal-title":"Journal of Operations Management"},{"issue":"7\/8","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref035","first-page":"162","article-title":"The knowledge-creating company","volume":"85","year":"2007","journal-title":"Harvard Business Review"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref036","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"136","DOI":"10.1111\/caim.12105","article-title":"Use of social media in inbound open innovation: creating conditions for absorptive capacity","volume":"24","year":"2015","journal-title":"Creativity and Innovation Management"},{"issue":"5","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref037","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"641","DOI":"10.1002\/job.261","article-title":"Integrated manufacturing, empowerment, and company performance","volume":"25","year":"2004","journal-title":"Journal of Organizational Behavior"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref038","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"80","DOI":"10.1509\/jmkg.67.3.80.18656","article-title":"Promoting relationship learning","volume":"67","year":"2003","journal-title":"Journal of Marketing"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref039","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"73","DOI":"10.1509\/jmkr.38.1.73.18833","article-title":"Cross-functional product development teams, creativity, and the innovativeness of new consumer products","volume":"38","year":"2001","journal-title":"Journal of Marketing Research"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref040","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"246","DOI":"10.1111\/1748-8583.12102","article-title":"HRM and innovation: looking across levels","volume":"27","year":"2017","journal-title":"Human Resource Management Journal"},{"issue":"5","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref041","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"745","DOI":"10.1002\/hrm.20315","article-title":"A meta-analytic investigation of the relationship between HRM bundles and firm performance","volume":"48","year":"2009","journal-title":"Human Resource Management"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref042","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"417","DOI":"10.1108\/APJML-02-2017-0022","article-title":"Social capital, relational learning and performance of suppliers","volume":"30","year":"2018","journal-title":"Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics"},{"issue":"5","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref043","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"765","DOI":"10.1016\/j.respol.2008.12.012","article-title":"Collaborative networks and product innovation performance: toward a contingency perspective","volume":"38","year":"2009","journal-title":"Research Policy"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref044","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"138","DOI":"10.1111\/jpim.12229","article-title":"Types of R&D collaborations and process innovation: the benefit of collaborating upstream in the knowledge chain","volume":"32","year":"2015","journal-title":"Journal of Product Innovation Management"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref045","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"74","DOI":"10.1080\/09585190701763933","article-title":"The effect of human resource practices on organizational performance: evidence from Greece","volume":"19","year":"2008","journal-title":"The International Journal of Human Resource Management"},{"issue":"4","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref046","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"931","DOI":"10.1287\/orsc.1090.0503","article-title":"Absorbing the concept of absorptive capacity: how to realize its potential in the organization field","volume":"21","year":"2010","journal-title":"Organization Science"},{"issue":"4","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref047","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"814","DOI":"10.1111\/jpim.12125","article-title":"Leveraging external sources of innovation: a review of research on open innovation","volume":"31","year":"2014","journal-title":"Journal of Product Innovation Management"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref048","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"40","DOI":"10.1108\/00483489810368549","article-title":"Empowerment: theory and practice","volume":"27","year":"1998","journal-title":"Personnel Review"},{"issue":"22","key":"key2021100714125291500_ref049","first-page":"100947","article-title":"Fostering integration through HRM practices: an empirical examination of absorptive capacity and knowledge transfer in cross-border M&As","volume":"55","year":"2020","journal-title":"Journal of World Business"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2021100714125291500_fur1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"63","DOI":"10.1509\/jimk.18.1.63","article-title":"Drivers and performance outcomes of relationship learning for suppliers in cross-border customer\u2013supplier relationships: the role of communication culture","volume":"18","year":"2010","journal-title":"Journal of International Marketing"}],"container-title":["Industrial Management &amp; Data Systems"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/IMDS-09-2020-0563\/full\/xml","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/IMDS-09-2020-0563\/full\/html","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,24]],"date-time":"2025-07-24T21:53:31Z","timestamp":1753394011000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emerald.com\/imds\/article\/121\/8\/1767-1783\/184329"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2021,6,9]]},"references-count":50,"journal-issue":{"issue":"8","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,6,9]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2021,8,10]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1108\/IMDS-09-2020-0563"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/imds-09-2020-0563","relation":{},"ISSN":["0263-5577"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0263-5577","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2021,6,9]]}}}