Innovation generation in buyer-supplier collaborative relationships: the role of relationship learning

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a model to explore and empirically examine how buyer–supplier collaborative relationships generate relationship-based innovation. In particular, it examines relationship learning as a mechanism by which buyer–supplier collaborative relationships can generate relationship-based innovation. Design/methodology/approach This study uses hierarchical regression method and bootstrapping procedures to conduct empirical tests on 382 Chinese manufacturers to verify the proposed model. Findings The study results provide evidence that buyer–supplier collaborative relationships provide a learning context for relationship learning, and that collaborative activities and cooperative tie have a positive impact on relationship learning (information sharing, joint sensemaking and relationship-specific memory). Information sharing and joint sensemaking as dynamic information flows have a positive impact on the relationship-specific memory of stored states. Also, results from this study analysis support the notion that relationship learning mediate the relationship between buyer–supplier collaborative relationships and relationship-based innovation. Research limitations/implications The results of relationship-based innovation are perceptual in nature, and the authors focused only on the introduction of innovative products. The findings could be extended to other types of innovation, such as service innovation and green innovation. Practical implications Firms engaged in generating relationship-based innovation need to focus on strengthening relationship learning, and relationship learning needs to be accompanied by establishing buyer–supplier collaborative relationships. The findings of the study provide practical value to firms seeking to generate innovation in interfirm relationships. Originality/value This study clarifies the implementation path of generating relationship-based innovation through relationship learning in buyer–supplier collaborative relationships, which contributes to the theoretical understanding of how firms acquire relationship-based innovation. Moreover, this study enriches the literature on relationship learning and provides further empirical evidence about the relational view and organizational learning theory potential complementarity, by analyzing buyer–supplier collaborative relationship as an antecedent and relationship learning as a mediating condition.