This paper utilizes insights from the knowledge-based view to examine the mediating role of knowledge integration and the moderating role of environmental turbulence (market and technological turbulence) in boundary-spanning search (supply-side and demand-side search) and disruptive innovation. This paper uses two-stage survey data collected from 355 manufacturing firms in China and utilizes multiple regression and necessary condition analysis (NCA). The regression results show that boundary-spanning search (supply-side and demand-side search) facilitates disruptive innovation by increasing knowledge integration. Results also indicate that technological turbulence strengthens the effect of supply-side search on disruptive innovation, whereas market turbulence weakens such an effect; market turbulence strengthens the effect of demand-side search on disruptive innovation, whereas technological turbulence weakens such an effect. The NCA findings are that supply-side search and knowledge integration are necessary conditions for disruptive innovation.
