無庸置疑地知識是競爭優勢的來源，尤其對於在海外設立子公司的多國籍企業而言更是重要。為了在海外市場營運順利，子公司需要透過內部網路的力量從母公司處獲取新知識。近來許多文獻的結果顯示多國籍企業的子公司不再只是依賴母公司知識的挹注，子公司會結合母公司的知識流入和其在當地營運所獲取的經驗進而創造新的知識。而這些新知識將會激發更多的創新。雖然之前已有文獻探討知識流入(knowledge inflows)/流出(knowledge outflows)與創新(innovation)之間的關係，但仍有不足之處，需要加以驗證。
　　此外，多國籍母公司與海外子公司之間網路關係的不同可能會影響子公司的知識流與創新之間的結果。由過去的研究可以發現社會資本（social capital）:包含子公司與母公司之間的信任(trust)關係、子公司在整個網路位置的中心性(centrality)與子公司營運上的自主性(autonomy)，皆會對於母公司與子公司的經理人在資源交易上的意願有所影響。因此，本研究採取這三種因素作為調節變數。雖然已有部分研究探討知識流(knowledge flows)，但集中在探討知識流與績效之間的關係。較少有關多國籍企業中知識的流入/流出，與創新和績效表現之間的關係。
　　研究結果如下：
（1） 對於多國籍企業的子公司而言，由母公司或是其他子公司的知識流入（knowledge）以及由子公司流向母公司或是其他子公司的知識流出（knowledge）對於多國籍企業子公司本身的組織創新與管理績效有正向顯著的影響。
（2） 在社會資本的三個變數中（信任、中心性、自主性），唯有信任（trust）對於多國籍企業子公司的組織創新與管理績效有較明顯正向的影響。
（3） 社會資本（包括信任、中心性、自主性）對於知識流入/知識流出與多國籍企業子公司組織創新（innovation）間的關係其干擾效果並不明顯。

　　It goes without saying that knowledge is the fundamental basis of competitive advantage, especially when a multinational firm enters a host country by forming a subsidiary. For a successful operation in the host country, a subsidiary firm always needs to get access to new knowledge through networking effort from the parent firm. Recently, many studies have discussed that MNC subsidiary operations rely not solely on their parent company’s knowledge instillation but their own generation from combining local experience and knowledge inflows. And these new knowledge will then trigger further innovation. Although there are plenty of studies which discuss about the interrelationship between knowledge inflows/outflows and innovation, the empirical validation above this research issue is limited. Further validations are required.
　　In addition, the network relationship between parent firm and its subsidiary may play as a moderating role between knowledge flows and innovation. According to previous study, it is found that social capital, including the trust between the parent firm and the subsidiary firm, the centrality position of the subsidiary firm, and autonomy of subsidiary operation will affect the willingness of parent firm or subsidiary managers to exchange resources. Therefore, these three factors are selected to evaluate the moderating effects on the relationship between knowledge inflows/outflows and innovation. Although there are some studies discussing about knowledge flows, most of them discussed about the interrelationship between knowledge flows and firm performance. Very few studies have emphasized the interrelationships between knowledge inflows/outflows, innovation, and performance for MNC operations.
　　According to the results of this study, several 　　　conclusions were made as followings:
(1) For MNC’s subsidiaries, not only knowledge inflows from parent firms or peer firms but also knowledge outflows to parent firms or peer firms did have significantly positive impact on subsidiaries’ innovation and performance.
(2) Among three research variables of social capital, only trust was positively related to MNC’s subsidiaries’ innovation and performance.
(3) Research variables of social capital, including trust, centrality, and autonomy, did not show significant moderating effects on the interrelationship between knowledge inflows/outflows and MNC’s innovation.

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