Effect of new product alliances on building cross-functional capability: cross-fertilisation or cannibalisation?

ABSTRACT

The extant literature has focused mainly on how establishing alliances helps firms develop their capabilities within focal functional areas, while paying limited attention to the cross-functional effects of alliances. Drawing on the knowledge-spillover literature and resource-dependence theory, this study investigates the effects of new product development (NPD) alliances on building cross-functional capabilities, testing the influences of important organisational, strategic, and environmental contingencies. Based on survey data collected from 212 Chinese firms, the findings reveal that, for resource-abundant firms, R&D-focused NPD alliances have cross-functional fertilisation effects on marketing capabilities; whereas for resource-constrained or highly innovative firms such alliances cannibalise marketing capabilities; in dynamic markets, marketing-focused NPD alliances cross-fertilise technological capabilities, but such an effect is weaker in firms adopting a highly incremental innovation orientation. Overall, this study sheds new light on how NPD alliances affect cross-functional capabilities under important contingencies.     

大数据能力对农业科技企业创新的影响：一个有调节的中介效应模型

目前学者们较为关注大数据能力对于企业创新的影响研究,但大多笼统探究大数据能力对企业创新的直接影响,深入探究其中介机制和调节机制的研究尚未完善,立足于农业科技企业的研究更是缺乏。本文基于动态能力理论,深入探究大数据能力对农业科技企业创新的影响机制,以双元组织学习为中介变量,以市场导向为调节变量,建立可调节的中介模型。基于181家农业科技企业样本,结果表明：大数据能力对企业创新具有显著正向影响;探索式学习和利用式学习在大数据能力和企业创新间均具有正向中介作用;市场导向增强了利用式学习在大数据能力与企业创新之间的中介作用;而对探索式学习在大数据能力与企业创新之间的中介作用未发挥显著的调节作用。     

Strategic networks and new product performance: the mediating role of ambidextrous innovation

In this study we examine the relationship between strategic networks and new product performance from the perspective of ambidextrous innovation (i.e. combining exploratory innovation and exploitative innovation) using a sample of 323 manufacturing firms in the transitional economy of China. Our empirical analyses present several interesting findings: (a) strategic networks are positively related to firms’ new product performance; (b) ambidextrous innovation has a positive effect on firms’ new product performance – that is, the combination of exploratory innovation and exploitative innovation positively affects the firm's new product performance, while the lack of balance between exploratory innovation and exploitative innovation negatively affects the firm's new product performance; and (c) ambidextrous innovation mediates the relationship between strategic networks and new product performance. Our findings provide scholars and managers with a better understanding of the key role played by the simultaneous adoption of exploratory and exploitative innovation in the relationship between strategic networks and new product performance.     

Knowledge structure,network structure,exploitative and exploratory innovations

ABSTRACT

Taking the data of 20,863 patents in the field of Artificial Intelligence between 2000 and 2018 as an example, this paper examined the relationships among organisations’ knowledge structure, network structure, exploratory innovation and exploitative innovation. The results show that organisations’ knowledge combinatorial potential and knowledge diversity have positive effects on both exploratory innovation and exploitative innovation. Organisations’ degree centrality and structural holes in the collaboration network can partly mediate the relationships between their knowledge structure and exploratory and exploitative innovations.     

顺水推舟：动态能力如何驱动企业创新战略演化？——基于西门子（中国）的纵向案例研究

创新战略影响企业创新发展方向及成效,但其在数字化转型过程中的演化路径尚不明朗。本文运用纵向单案例研究方法,以西门子（中国）为研究对象,从动态能力视角解剖数字化转型过程中创新战略的演化路径。研究发现：在数字化转型的探索期、成长期、加速期,企业在不同动态能力的推动下顺势实现创新战略演化。其中,在数字识别能力驱动下,企业创新战略主要表现为利用式创新战略,在数字整合能力驱动下,企业创新战略主要表现为探索式创新战略与利用式创新战略并存,而在数字重构能力驱动下,企业创新战略则主要表现为探索式创新战略。本文通过纵向单案例研究,揭示了动态能力驱动下企业数字化转型的内在过程及创新战略演化路径。本文有望拓展动态能力理论在数字化情境中的应用,并从演化视角深化企业创新战略研究,同时为企业有效运用动态能力以推进数字化转型,以及创新战略制定提供理论支撑与路径指引。     

路径依赖对公司数字创业的抑制及免疫机制研究

路径依赖是在位企业实现数字创业面临的必然挑战，而对企业如何有效利用内外部资源克服路径依赖，现有研究并未形成明确的观点。基于组织免疫理论，遵循抑制—免疫分析思路，从战略联盟和资源拼凑内外视角探究公司数字创业中克服路径依赖的免疫机制。实证结果表明，路径依赖对公司数字创业具有显著抑制作用；战略联盟与资源拼凑均能够对路径依赖的抑制作用产生免疫效应，但针对路径依赖的3个表现维度，战略联盟与资源拼凑发挥的免疫效应存在显著差异。     

双元联盟网络如何影响突破式创新——技术能力与网络惯例的调节作用

不同类型联盟网络涉及不同程度的知识共享和知识泄露风险，并有可能对突破式创新产生差异化影响。选取合肥、南京和苏州253个企业为样本，探究企业探索性联盟网络和开发性联盟网络分别对突破式创新的直接效应，以及技术能力和网络惯例等内外部情境变量对两种关系的调节效应。结果发现：探索性联盟网络对突破式创新具有倒U型效应；开发性联盟网络对突破式创新不具有曲线效应，仅是正向线性关系；内外部不同情境变量对探索性、开发性联盟网络具有不同调节效应。其中，技术能力仅对探索性联盟网络与突破式创新间关系具有显著正向调节作用；网络惯例对开发性联盟网络与突破式创新间关系具有显著正向调节作用。研究结论对组建企业联盟和推动企业技术创新发展具有一定指导意义。     

Technological capabilities accumulation and internationalization strategies of Mexican biotech firms: a multi case study from agro-food & pharma industries

ABSTRACT

In this paper our aim is to analyze the relationship between technological capabilities accumulation of Mexican biotech firms and their different types of internationalization strategies. Because of the determining effect of firms’ capital investment level, we analyzed three groups of firms: start-ups, small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) and multinational firms (MNEs). We made use of a wide range of information: The First Survey of Biotechnology Development Firms in Mexico, the systematization of 20 case studies, interviews with key persons in the industry and public sources. We confirmed the two hypotheses outlined: (i) TCA process does not follow a linear path in Mexican biotech firms and (ii) firms with lower capital investment levels exhibit a lower level of TCA and less complex internationalization strategies; while firms with higher capital investment levels are associated with higher TCA levels and more complex internationalization strategies. Biotechnology requires high levels of capital investment and these to a large extent determine the development and technological capabilities accumulation. Therefore, we suggest that a capitalization program is much needed to foster Mexican biotech firms’ TCA processes and develop internationalization strategies.     

The impact of adoptive management innovations on medium-sized enterprises from a dynamic capability perspective

ABSTRACT

This paper focuses on the nature of adaptive managerial innovation and its effects on organisational dynamic capabilities. Using an original model based on 16 items and PLS – SEM instrument on a sample of 261 Romanian companies, we conclusively demonstrated that dynamic capabilities are an important determinant for management of innovation. Our study further reveals the positive effects of sensing, absorptive and integrative capabilities upon the innovation process. We consider that our study contributes to the development of pragmatic approaches on organisational dynamic capabilities and management of innovation literature.     

Risks and opportunities for the progress of digitalization in Mexico

ABSTRACT

The aim of this research is to identify Mexico’s current conditions for the incorporation of the changes derived from the processes of increasing digitization into its productive sector, called Industry 4.0. To achieve this goal, this work uses the results obtained from a survey questionnaire answered by qualified technological and productive informants with the purpose of identifying the perspectives of firms initiating this transformation. The selection of information units was based on a theoretical sample (not statistically representative), a methodological feature that forced us to analyze carefully the data collected. The results reached show that, from the perspective of the actors involved, the innovative structure in Mexico presents serious limitations in terms of technical and organizational capabilities of the firms to incorporate digital technologies in their production processes. This paper proposes a first exploratory analysis on the visions of Mexican firms and intermediary organizations that deals with the increasing technical and organizational challenges of the new digital technologies. This article provides analytical and empirical inputs for the analysis of the opportunities that Mexican firms have to incorporate these new technical trends. Finally, the work highlights critical institutional and governance aspects for the debate of national industrial and innovative policy agendas.     

Heterogeneity in learning processes and the evolution of dynamic managerial capabilities as a response of emergence of biosimilar market: evidence from the Indian pharmaceutical industry

ABSTRACT

This paper examines heterogeneity in the response of Indian firms to the emergence of a new segment in the pharmaceutical generics market – biosimilars. The necessary diversity of the knowledge base and regulatory requirements underlying biosmilar products have created significant technological capability and market access challenges for Indian firms. This is but the latest development which adds to an existing catalogue of challenges including the decline of the traditional generics markets, regulatory hurdles in advanced country markets and failures in managing new drug development. Using case studies of three Indian firms we show that dynamic managerial capability is a key driver of heterogeneity in learning processes involved in acquisition of technological capabilities for biosimilars and market access strategies. It further highlights the important role of pre-existing capabilities in enabling and constraining the development of new biosimilar capabilities.     

企业社会责任、非沉淀性冗余资源与二元性技术创新

现有文献对于企业社会责任与技术创新关系存在悖论。为打开该作用机制的“黑箱”,基于创新二元性理论,区分企业社会责任对探索式和利用式技术创新的差异性影响,并检验非沉淀性冗余资源对上述关系的调节机制。基于2008—2016年中国研发密集型上市企业实证研究发现：①企业社会责任能够显著正向影响探索式技术创新;②非沉淀性冗余资源正向调节企业社会责任与探索式技术创新间的关系。结论深化了企业社会责任与技术创新间关系的理论和实证研究,并丰富了企业社会责任的权变观。     

As times goes by. A dynamic impact assessment of the innovation policy and the Matthew effect on Argentinean firms

ABSTRACT

The objective of this paper is to analyse the impact of public funds for innovation on firm’s capabilities, innovative dynamics and economic performance. A large stream of literature about the evaluation of public funds is focused on testing the existence of additionality effects on investments and results. This paper aims to provide evidence about other dimensions of the firm that public policy can alter, with focus on the time window between the treatment and the impact, and the role of the Matthew effect (recurrence) in this process. The empirical exercise is based on a dynamic panel data made of 1465 firms (3337 observations) that applied to the Argentinean Technological Fund (FONTAR), which is the main public fund for innovation in Argentina, between 2007 and 2016. Results show short-term effects of accessing to FONTAR on firms’ capabilities, medium-term effects on innovation efforts and long-term effects on productivity. Even though the effect on productivity is larger among recurrent firms, the differences among recurrent and non-recurrent firms are not conclusive in case of capabilities and innovation efforts. All in all, this research provides evidence about the ‘when’ of public policy and the need to look beyond input additionality effects when analysing its impact.     

制度逻辑与新创企业技术创新模式:往期绩效和介入时间的调节作用

基于5省236家新创企业的调研数据,从利益相关者的制度逻辑入手,分析了风险投资者和政府机构对新创企业探索式创新和利用式创新的影响,以及企业往期绩效和利益相关者介入新创企业发展时间的调节作用。研究发现:(1)获得风险投资机构资金的新创企业倾向于采取利用式创新,而获得政府机构资金扶持的新创企业倾向于探索式创新;(2)新创企业往期绩效越好,其在获得风险投资机构资金后采取利用式创新的可能性越小,而在获得政府机构资金扶持后采取探索式创新的可能性越大;(3)风险投资机构介入新创企业发展的时间越长,新创企业采取利用式创新的可能性越大,而政府机构介入新创企业发展的时间越长,新创企业采取探索式创新的可能性越大。     

A Resource-based View of Innovativeness in Small Firms

The resource-based view is presented here as the theoretical framework for empirical research on the determinants of technological innovativeness in small firms. These determinants include the characteristics of the owner/manager (O/M) and the firm and some technological assets (resources and capabilities). Evidence based on case studies is used for the evaluation of their effect on innovativeness and their interaction. The study highlights the key role of the O/M and the importance of some of his/her characteristics. It also shows the impact of certain resources and capabilities. The O/M emerges as the orchestrator of resource accumulation and capability development in the innovative firms.     

战略导向对企业双元技术创新的差异化影响——技术环境的调节作用

聚焦双元技术创新的产生机制,利用问卷调查数据,实证分析了不同战略导向对企业双元技术创新的差异化影响以及技术环境对上述影响关系的调节作用。研究结果显示:战略导向对企业双元技术创新具有差异化影响,其中创业导向更有利于驱动探索式技术创新,而客户导向更有利于驱动利用式技术创新;技术环境对两者关系具有调节作用,技术动荡程度正向调节创业导向与双元技术创新的关系,负向调节客户导向与双元技术创新的关系。     

Standards and innovation: US public/private partnerships to support technology-based economic growth

This paper examines how strategic alliances to create and use standards affect economic growth and development. The explanation of the link from standards to economic growth and development is through the effects of standards on the incentives to perform industrial research and development (R&D). We examine product standards, metrology traceable to national and international standards, and regulatory standards to address negative externalities. The paper develops a theoretical explanation for the link from standards to growth, survey/interview-guides to gather information from industrial R&D experts about the explanation, and case-study evidence about the explanation. We discuss the standard-setting process and explain that it entails strategic alliances among firms and with government involvement. Case studies of R&D projects in firms and in a national laboratory support the belief that standards implemented via strategic alliances leverage economic growth and development.     

管理解释对组织二元性的影响:行动一致性的调节作用

管理者对战略环境的解释对其战略选择具有重要影响,而企业探索式创新、利用式创新及两者平衡是影响企业发展的重要战略,考察管理解释对组织二元创新的影响具有重要意义。基于管理认知过程研究,提出一系列关于管理解释与组织二元性(包括探索式创新和利用式创新)关系的假设,基于207份问卷样本数据实证研究发现,管理者威胁解释会促进利用式创新,而机会解释会促进探索式创新;管理者矛盾性解释会促进组织二元性,而管理团队行动一致性在以上关系中具有正向调节作用。研究结论丰富了管理认知过程的重要环节——管理者外部环境解释,并将其与组织发展重要因素——组织二元性相结合,刻画了如何通过对外部信息的矛盾性解释,辩证地考察企业发展战略,进而成功构建二元性组织。     

Human capital and firms’ innovation: evidence from emerging economies

ABSTRACT

We explore the relationship between human capital and firms’ innovation in emerging economies. Most papers consider the formal knowledge developed in R&D laboratories as a major source of innovation. However, a critical portion of knowledge required for innovation resides in human resources and is created outside any formalised R&D activity. We consider that, to improve their technological capabilities, firms should invest in different forms of human capital, namely highly educated workforce and experienced managers, but also in strategic human resource (HR) practices aimed at developing human capital by increasing employees’ firm-specific technical skills and competences. Besides looking at the type of innovation outcomes, we place greater emphasis on the strategies of innovation development, as these should signal an improved firms’ ability, not just to innovate, but to put their own creative effort in the development of innovation. Our results contrast with the traditional view of firms in emerging economies as mainly relying on the external acquisition of innovations, by showing their actual ability to develop new technologies. In this respect, HR practices aimed at fostering employees’ learning and autonomy at work appear more important than the educational attainment of workers, whilst the experience of managers does not seem effective.     

Building Innovation Networks: Issues of Strategy and Expertise

This article investigates the role of networks in new product development by reporting on a contemporary case study of a firm in the defence electronics sector. A specific focus is the development and ongoing management of a network that comprises a number of formal inter-firm strategic alliances. The paper begins by reviewing earlier literature on technology strategies for innovation that has identified a key role for inter-firm networking in the organization and management of new product development. We then consider the related issue of the relevant management expertise, which enables firms to adopt a network approach to their strategy for innovation by developing a competence in the process of network building. In this particular case study the critical issue centred upon the extent of the internal resources in terms of time and personal effort that was devoted to building trust and actively managing various inter-firm relationships over time. The article concludes that while inter-firm networking can facilitate new product development across firm boundaries, it is not a panacea for success. Whilst financially successful in terms of product and market development, the networking strategy has also set up problems within the particular case study firm in terms of resourcing and managing the very growth that has been generated.