Research on the balance of knowledge search and its effect mechanism

In the open innovation era, knowledge searching promotes firms to build competitive advantages. Knowledge search balance, which results from various knowledge search strategy, is becoming the focus of theoretic research. After systematic review of some literature, this paper divides knowledge search into four types based on knowledge search district, search strategy, and search content. Then we discuss the problem of knowledge search balance, and investigate the effects of knowledge search balance on product innovation. Finally, a completely theoretical model of knowledge search balance and future research problems have been put forward.