Knowledge Integration and Project Performance: Empirical Study on R&D Projects of Equipment Industry

Successful project development depends on the ability to integrate external and internal knowledge. The purpose of this study is to understand the relationship between knowledge integration and project performance in equipment industry. Therefore, 73 R&D projects of equipment industry in Northeast China are chosen as research samples. A theory model is constructed based on literature review, and knowledge integration is measured with prior project experience, internal knowledge integration and two dimensions of accessing to external knowledge: breadth of external knowledge and depth of external knowledge. The study shows that breadth of external knowledge, depth of external knowledge, internal knowledge integration and prior project experience are positively related to project performance.