When Do Structural Holes Enhance Firm Innovation? A Meta-Analysis Across Industrial and Institutional Systems

Structural holes provide firms with access to nonredundant information and diverse knowledge, yet their innovation benefits may vary considerably across organizational environments. This study examines whether the structural hole–innovation relationship varies across industrial and institutional systems. Drawing on resource dependence theory and neo-institutional theory, we argue that the value of brokerage positions depends on both the knowledge demands of the industrial environment and the formal and informal institutions in which firms are embedded. Using meta-analytic techniques, we synthesize prior empirical evidence on the structural hole–innovation relationship and examine the moderating roles of industry technological intensity, rule of law, and collectivism. The results indicate a positive average association between structural holes and firm innovation, alongside substantial variation across empirical settings. The moderator analyses yield patterns consistent with the proposed roles of industry technological intensity, rule of law, and collectivism. These findings highlight the importance of considering broader industrial and institutional contexts when examining how interfirm network positions contribute to innovation.