Leveraging diverse knowledge sources through proactive behaviour: How companies can use inter-organizational networks for business model innovation

The relevance of business model innovation (BMI) for strategic renewal and competitive advantage has been increasingly recognized by both strategy scholars and managers. In this paper, we explore how inter-organizational networks and firms' proactiveness influence BMI. By examining Dutch design companies, we show that having a network of companies with different sizes has a positive effect on BMI. We also observe a positive effect of ties change. Finally, we show the importance of firms' proactiveness. Through the discussion of network elements and proactiveness as antecedents of BMI, we contribute to the business model and social network literature

Top management team diversity and ambidexterity: The contingent role of shared responsibility and CEO cognitive trust

Earlier research has suggested that diversity is a double-edged sword when achieving organizational ambidexterity. While it may contribute to the development of new combinations of exploration and exploitation, it may also lead to disagreements and potential conflict within top management teams (TMTs). To improve our understanding of the effectiveness of diversity in ambidextrous organizations, we develop a synergistic perspective on TMT diversity and examine how two types of diversity – functional and age diversity – affect the achievement of organizational ambidexterity. We also identify shared responsibility and CEO cognitive trust as important contingencies that may complement the effects of diversity within TMTs in terms of resolving potential conflicts and managing tensions between exploration and exploitation effectively. Based on multisource data, our study shows that CEO cognitive trust and shared responsibility moderate the relationship between different types of diversity and ambidexterity. Our study has important implications for research on organizational ambidexterity, diversity, and senior leadership.We are grateful for the finance received by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (ECO2011-28706) and Conselleria d’Educació, Investigació,Cultura i Esport (GV2015-044) to carry out this research

Scaling-up: Building, Leading and Sustaining Rapid Growth Over Time

Even as research on scaling and high growth firms (HFGs) is gaining momentum, the corpus of accumulated research remains largely fragmented and dispersed, with little in the way of a central conceptual foundation or ‘theoretical true north’ to guide empirical development. This Special Issue provides a forum for works that push the theoretical and empirical frontiers of research on scaling and HGFs. We provide a multi-dimensional conceptualization that recognizes scaling as a dynamic capability entailing routines and processes for expansion, replication, and synchronization. We also present a typology that specifies the multiple types of HGFs. Inspired by the four studies published in the special issue, we finally outline five priorities for future research

Structural differentiation and corporate venturing: The moderating role of formal and informal integration mechanisms

Research has suggested that corporate venturing is crucial to strategic renewal and firm performance, yet scholars still debate the appropriate organizational configurations to facilitate the creation of new businesses in existing organizations. Our study investigates the effectiveness of combining structural differentiation with formal and informal organizational as well as top management team integration mechanisms in establishing an appropriate context for venturing activities. Our findings suggest that structural differentiation has a positive effect on corporate venturing. In addition, our study indicates that a shared vision has a positive effect on venturing in a structurally differentiated context. Socially integrated senior teams and cross-functional interfaces, however, are ineffective integration mechanisms for establishing linkages across differentiated units and for successfully pursuing corporate venturing.Corporate venturing Structural differentiation Formal and informal integration mechanisms

Balancing exploration and exploitation in inventions: Quality of inventions and team composition

Building upon the exploration and exploitation framework, this study investigates the antecedents and consequences of inventions that balance new and existing knowledge. Using patent data from the semiconductor industry, this paper evaluates the quality of inventions that involve different levels of exploration. It finds that balanced inventions that combine a firm’s existing knowledge with new knowledge are of higher quality than inventions that are either over-exploratory or over-exploitative. Furthermore, this study investigates how teams can be composed to create balanced inventions. Results show that teams of a moderate size and with a moderate level of invention experience (both general and specific) are more likely to create inventions that balance exploration and exploitation

Firm reputation and investment decisions: The contingency role of securities analysts' recommendations

Moving beyond resource-based consequences of a firm's reputation, we develop a behavioral perspective on the impact of corporate reputation. Although there has been extensive discussion in previous studies of the benefits of reputation in terms of gaining resource advantages, we apply theory on self-regulatory focus to suggest that highly reputable firms may tend to have a prevention focus rather than a promotion focus in their investment strategies. This tendency will lead the firm to opt for low-risk investments rather than high-risk investments. Furthermore, we develop a contingency model and argue that the main effect of reputation on the investment decisions of the firm is further strengthened by the negative recommendations of securities analysts. We find support for our hypotheses. In doing so, we address emerging theories about the potential negative consequences of a firm's reputation and provide important insights for our theoretical understanding of the behavior of highly reputable firms

Firm Innovativeness and its Performance Outcomes: A Meta-analytic Review and Theoretical Integration

Drawing on the chain-of-effects model as a unifying framework, this meta-analysis indicates that firm innovativeness indirectly affects firm value through its effects on market position and financial position. In addition, the findings suggest that innovativeness has direct positive effects on financial position and firm value. Moreover, the metaanalysis provides evidence of reverse causality in the innovativeness–firm value relationship. Importantly, the results also reveal that the positive effects of firm innovativeness on market position and financial position are stronger for larger firms, for firms that invest more in advertising, for firms in high-tech industries, for innovativeness outputs and for radical innovations. Finally, the meta-analytic evidence also indicates that the relationship between innovativeness and firm value is stronger for smaller firms, for firms that invest more in advertising, for firms in lowtech industries, for innovativeness inputs, for innovativeness culture, and for radical innovations