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Firm-level effects of staged investments in innovation: The moderating role of resource availability

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  • Andries, Petra
  • Hünermund, Paul

Abstract

Integrating insights on firms’ resource availability with bounded rationality and real options arguments, we propose that resource-abundant and resource-constrained firms reap different effects from a staged approach to innovation. We argue that resource availability triggers overoptimism and managerial discretion, and thereby impedes adequate resource reallocation in staged innovation projects, leading to different effects of staging at the firm level. An empirical analysis of 2,790 German firms confirms that a staged investment approach leads to a higher number of newly started and abandoned innovation projects in resource-abundant firms than in resource-constrained firms. Supplementary analyses suggest that this is indeed because resource-abundant firms demonstrate more overoptimism and managerial discretion. We discuss implications for the real options literature, as well as managerial implications for innovation investment decisions.

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  • Andries, Petra & Hünermund, Paul, 2020. "Firm-level effects of staged investments in innovation: The moderating role of resource availability," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(7).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:respol:v:49:y:2020:i:7:s0048733320300743
    DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2020.103994
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    1. Love, James H. & Roper, Stephen & Vahter, Priit, 2023. "The dynamics of abandoned innovation activities: Learning from failure or learning to prevent failure?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(8).
    2. Coali, Andrea & Gambardella, Alfonso & Novelli, Elena, 2024. "Scientific decision-making, project selection and longer-term outcomes," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(6).
    3. Kristof Van Criekingen & Mark Freel & Dirk Czarnitzki, 2021. "Open innovation deficiency: Evidence on project abandonment and delay," Working Papers of Department of Management, Strategy and Innovation, Leuven 668283, KU Leuven, Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Department of Management, Strategy and Innovation, Leuven.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Innovation; Real options; Staged investment; Resource availability; Bounded rationality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • M10 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - General

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