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‘Keep out’ signs: the role of deterrence in the competition for resources

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  • Gavin Clarkson
  • Puay Khoon Toh

Abstract

To explain resource heterogeneity, past research focuses on how rivals' resources are hidden from firms and firms accordingly have difficulties accessing them. We argue that resource heterogeneity may also arise when firms are deterred from a technological space upon being shown what resources rivals already possess within that space. To illustrate this deterrence effect, we use patent reexamination certificates, which indicate strategic stakes within a technological space without materially disclosing additional details of the underlying technologies and hence avoid the confounding effect of attracting competition through disclosure. We demonstrate how rivals' reexamination certificates within a technological space induce a firm to subsequently allocate less inventive effort in that space, based on two mechanisms—indications of rivals' developmental speed and exclusionary ability. We further develop these two mechanisms by arguing that the deterrence effect is stronger when rivals' speed is enhanced by their downstream capabilities, or when rivals' exclusion is enhanced by their litigation experiences. Findings suggest that a firm's path of resource accumulation evolves through avoidance of rivals' paths, and deterrence may constitute a viable alternative theory of resource heterogeneity. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Suggested Citation

  • Gavin Clarkson & Puay Khoon Toh, 2010. "‘Keep out’ signs: the role of deterrence in the competition for resources," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(11), pages 1202-1225, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:stratm:v:31:y:2010:i:11:p:1202-1225
    DOI: 10.1002/smj.853
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    Cited by:

    1. Carlo Capuano & Iacopo Grassi & Riccardo Martina, 2020. "Patent protection and threat of litigation in oligopoly," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 130(2), pages 109-131, July.
    2. Lee, Jong-Seon & Kim, Nami & Bae, Zong-Tae, 2019. "The effects of patent litigation involving NPEs on firms’ patent strategies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    3. Kenny Ching & Joshua Gans & Scott Stern, 2019. "Control versus execution: endogenous appropriability and entrepreneurial strategy," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 28(2), pages 389-408.
    4. Martin Ganco & Cameron D. Miller & Puay Khoon Toh, 2020. "From litigation to innovation: Firms' ability to litigate and technological diversification through human capital," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(13), pages 2436-2473, December.
    5. Vivek Tandon & Puay Khoon Toh, 2022. "Who deviates? Technological opportunities, career concern, and inventor's distant search," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(4), pages 724-757, April.
    6. He, Jing & Lee, Dongyoung, 2023. "Say more to return less? Disclosure subsequent to successful technological innovation," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 403-426.

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