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Configurations of strategic R&D decisions and financial performance in small-sized and medium-sized firms

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  • Teirlinck, Peter

Abstract

This paper links the strategic decisions made in R&D during the financially turbulent period of 2009 to the firm's financial health in the period 2010–2013. The focus is on decisions made in R&D-active small and medium-sized enterprises in terms of absorptive capacity, open innovation, type of R&D, and the organizational structuring of R&D. Based on a representative set of R&D-active firms in Belgium, qualitative comparative analysis reveals that the outcomes in terms of financial performance related to optimal configurations of strategic R&D decisions depend on the firm's size and on the time-lag under consideration. Managers in small-sized firms are advised to pay particular attention to a more functionally-structured R&D approach in configurations of strategic R&D decisions. To increase medium-term financial performance, managers in medium-sized firms benefit from more engagement in research-oriented activities, more in-house innovation, and the enhancement of absorptive capacity in sets of strategic R&D decisions.

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  • Teirlinck, Peter, 2017. "Configurations of strategic R&D decisions and financial performance in small-sized and medium-sized firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 55-65.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:74:y:2017:i:c:p:55-65
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2017.01.008
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