The multiple relationships among knowledge heterogeneity, knowledge transfer and knowledge innovation as moderated by microstructure holes

The positive relationship between knowledge transfer and knowledge innovation is recognized by most scholars, while knowledge heterogeneity, as a knowledge situation of the enterprise organization, affects knowledge transfer within enterprise organizations. Therefore, as a state, knowledge transfer can be regarded as a result of knowledge heterogeneity, and it becomes the intermediary state between knowledge heterogeneity and knowledge innovation. The organizational structure of individuals within an enterprise organization may affect these three elements and their interrelationships. In this paper, data are collected by means of on-the-spot investigation and a network questionnaire for analysis. The results show that the microstructure state of the individual in the enterprise organization plays a moderating role for the first three elements. The lower that the micro-restriction of the individual is, the more favorable the knowledge heterogeneity is for the inverted U-shaped impact of knowledge transfer and knowledge innovation and the more favorable the occurrence of knowledge innovation.