University-Industry Relationship and Its Continuity - Bridging the Missing Link

• Main Authors: Sheng-Hsien Lee, 李聖賢
• Other Authors: Peter Sher
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2009
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/81235743331987098639

博士 === 國立暨南國際大學 === 國際企業學系 === 97 === University-industry relationship (UIR) has become a central concern for policy makers to enhance the national system of innovation (NSI), as universities are important sources of new scientific knowledge. A growing number of universities are redefining their objectives in terms of identifying, creating and commercializing their research output. However, the decreasing investment of UIR by the industry in Taiwan prompts us to think: How effective are the policy measures? What determines the relationship continuity? This study adopted a two-stage research strategy. In the phase-one study, several findings emerged. First, the stability of university-industry relationship was identified as a critical dimension of the relationship performance. Second, this study finds that relational factors (i.e. trust and commitment) and economic factors (i.e. delivery of outcomes and commercial concerns) perceived by the firms were relevant variables affecting the perception of UIR experiences. Third, the result shows that the impact of UIR promotion policy was limited. Financial incentives and intermediary organizations alone were not effective in enhancing firms’ expectation of future cooperation with universities. In the phase-two study, an integrated UIR continuity model was developed to investigate what determined the continuity of university-industry relationship. The findings confirmed that UIR continuity was enhanced by relationship commitment, consistent with the relationship marketing scheme that conceptually guided this study. The SEM analysis offered support for the statistically significant relationships between communication, trust, relationship commitment, perceived value and continuity. However, the effects of perceived value as a critical mediating construct between relationship commitment and continuity differ from what has been suggested in previous studies. It should be noted that the Academia-to-Business (A2B) relationships may be formed through government intervention programs. However, for the long-term benefits to be materialized, the nature of credence service in the relational exchange should be prudently recognized. Although the importance of economic returns from UIR is not less stressed than in Business-to-Business (B2B) relationships, knowledge (credence service) exchange in the university-industry relationship is often difficult for customers to evaluate even after purchase and use. The sustaining relationships are critical in bringing about relationship performance and based on the cultivation of customer loyalty. Therefore, the proposed UIR continuity model may serve as a guiding post for both universities and firms wishing to reap the long-term benefits of UIR. The findings of this study contribute to the literatures of UIR performance as well as provide a micro foundation for enhancing the effectiveness of NSI.