Knowledge Transfer within relationship portfolios: The Creation of Knowledge Recombination Rents

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to clarify the underdeveloped conceptualization of a particular type network rents, defined as knowledge recombination rents, related to the possibility for a firm to transfer and recombine knowledge within and across its portfolio of inter-organizational relationships. Design/methodology/approach: Adopting a contingency approach, we develop a comprehensive model with propositions drawn from an original synthesis of the extant literature on the management of inter-organizational relationships. Findings: We summarize the most important internal and external variables that explain how knowledge recombination rents arise within a firm’s portfolio of inter-organizational relationships. We create a seven-proposition model that considers: an “internal fit”, related to internal contingencies of the firm, specifically life stage and its strategy; an “external fit”, related to external contingencies of the network of the firm, specifically past experience and current portfolio structure. Research limitations/implications: The model is theory-driven. Future research is needed to empirically validate the propositions, especially in different industries and contexts. Practical implications: Our model, beyond the fact of being theoretically sounded, is also completely practical oriented. Indeed, we developed a comprehensive model articulated in seven propositions which relationship managers can easily use to analyze and manage their portfolios of inter-organizational relationships. Originality/value: Our model allows us to assert that the value of an inter-organizational relationship is not fixed nor just related to the single dyadic interaction; rather before engaging with a relationship is crucial to ponder possible benefits and harms. This is the central element in our contribution that develops an easy-to-use and comprehensive model based on best practices.