Zhao Shu-Kuan, Cai Jia-Ming
School of Business and Management, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Front Psychol. 2022 Jun 20;13:934012. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.934012. eCollection 2022.
To understand the mechanism of boundary personnel opportunistic behaviors in collaborative R&D projects to reduce the risk of companies suffering from opportunism in collaboration. This study is conducted based on the context of collaborative R&D in the equipment manufacturing industry in Northeast China. This research mainly explored the mechanism of boundary personnel opportunistic intentions. Drawing on the theory of reasoned action (TRA), this study investigated the relationship between boundary personnel Guanxi, organizational loyalty, opportunistic attitudes, subjective norms, and intentions. In addition, this research examined the moderating role of the degree of dependence on the collaborator. In total, 524 valid questionnaires were finally collected. The data analysis results suggested that Guanxi inhibits opportunistic attitudes and subjective norms. Organizational loyalty promotes opportunistic attitudes and subjective norms. Opportunistic attitudes and subjective norms positively predict intentions. Opportunistic attitudes mediate between organizational loyalty and opportunistic intentions. Opportunistic subjective norms mediate between Guanxi and opportunistic intentions. Opportunistic subjective norms also mediate between organizational loyalty and opportunistic intentions. Dependence on the collaborator positively moderates the relationship between opportunistic attitudes and intentions. Therefore, it can be argued that in collaborative R&D in the equipment manufacturing industry, the corporate could stimulate boundary personnel to build good Guanxi to eliminate opportunism. At the same time, companies should lead employees to show loyalty properly, which opportunism is not wise in collaborative R&D. Finally, enterprises should objectively understand and evaluate the dependence relationship between the two partners in collaborative R&D to adopt the right strategy.
为了解协同研发项目中边界人员机会主义行为的机制，以降低企业在合作中遭受机会主义的风险。本研究基于中国东北地区装备制造业协同研发的背景展开。本研究主要探讨了边界人员机会主义意图的机制。借鉴理性行动理论（TRA），本研究考察了边界人员的关系、组织忠诚度、机会主义态度、主观规范与意图之间的关系。此外，本研究还考察了对合作伙伴依赖程度的调节作用。最终共收集到524份有效问卷。数据分析结果表明，关系抑制机会主义态度和主观规范；组织忠诚度促进机会主义态度和主观规范；机会主义态度和主观规范正向预测意图；机会主义态度在组织忠诚度和机会主义意图之间起中介作用；机会主义主观规范在关系和机会主义意图之间起中介作用；机会主义主观规范也在组织忠诚度和机会主义意图之间起中介作用；对合作伙伴的依赖正向调节机会主义态度与意图之间的关系。因此，可以认为，在装备制造业的协同研发中，企业可以激励边界人员建立良好的关系以消除机会主义。同时，企业应引导员工适度表现出忠诚度，在协同研发中采取机会主义并不明智。最后，企业应客观理解和评估协同研发中双方伙伴的依赖关系，以采取正确的策略。
