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Investment and the behavioral theory of the firm: evidence from shipbuilding

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  • Henrich R. Greve

Abstract

Investment in production assets is a strategic decision that results from organizational search and risk taking. The behavioral theory of the firm predicts that performance below the aspiration level and slack resources initiate organizational search. Risk theory predicts that performance below the aspiration level increases risk tolerance. This paper integrates these theories to form a theory of problem- and slack-driven strategic change and applies it to the growth of production assets. The predictions are tested by analyzing the growth of production assets in the Japanese shipbuilding industry, yielding clear evidence that high performance causes low asset growth, but no effect of slack. Copyright 2003, Oxford University Press.

Suggested Citation

  • Henrich R. Greve, 2003. "Investment and the behavioral theory of the firm: evidence from shipbuilding," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 12(5), pages 1051-1076, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:indcch:v:12:y:2003:i:5:p:1051-1076
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    Cited by:

    1. Songcui Hu & Zi-Lin He & Daniela P. Blettner & Richard A. Bettis, 2017. "Conflict inside and outside: Social comparisons and attention shifts in multidivisional firms," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(7), pages 1435-1454, July.
    2. Lakshmi Goyal, 2023. "Investments during institutional transitions: Driven by problems or opportunities?," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 40(4), pages 1733-1768, December.
    3. Ruth, Derek & Iyer, Dinesh N. & Sharp, Barton M., 2013. "Motivation and ability in the decision to acquire," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(11), pages 2287-2293.
    4. Alessandri, Todd M. & Pattit, Jason M., 2014. "Drivers of R&D investment: The interaction of behavioral theory and managerial incentives," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(2), pages 151-158.
    5. Yongbo Sun & Zichen Qiu, 2022. "Positive Performance Feedback and Innovation Search: New Ideas for Sustainable Business Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-18, February.
    6. Choi, Jaeho & Rhee, Mooweon & Kim, Young-Choon, 2019. "Performance feedback and problemistic search: The moderating effects of managerial and board outsiderness," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 21-33.
    7. Di Lorenzo, Francesco & Almeida, Paul, 2017. "The role of relative performance in inter-firm mobility of inventors," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(6), pages 1162-1174.
    8. Geels, Frank W. & Ayoub, Martina, 2023. "A socio-technical transition perspective on positive tipping points in climate change mitigation: Analysing seven interacting feedback loops in offshore wind and electric vehicles acceleration," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    9. Zhangsheng Jiang, 2020. "Can the Gap and Rating of Market Expectation Promote Innovation Input of China Manufacturers?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-19, March.
    10. Ref, Ohad & Feldman, Naomi E. & Iyer, Dinesh N & Shapira, Zur, 2021. "Entry into new foreign markets: Performance feedback and opportunity costs," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 56(6).
    11. Shinkle, George A. & Hodgkinson, Gerard P. & Gary, Michael Shayne, 2021. "Government policy changes and organizational goal setting: Extensions to the behavioral theory of the firm," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 406-417.
    12. Marjolein C. J. Caniëls & Eugène Cleophas & Janjaap Semeijn, 2016. "Implementing green supply chain practices: an empirical investigation in the shipbuilding industry," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(8), pages 1005-1020, November.
    13. John R. Busenbark & Matthew Semadeni & Mathias Arrfelt & Michael C. Withers, 2022. "Corporate‐level influences on internal capital allocation: The role of financial analyst performance projections," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(1), pages 180-209, January.
    14. Lim, Elizabeth, 2018. "Social pay reference point, external environment, and risk taking: An integrated behavioral and social psychological view," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 68-78.
    15. Erming Xu & Hui Yang & J. Quan & Yuan Lu, 2015. "Organizational slack and corporate social performance: Empirical evidence from China’s public firms," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 32(1), pages 181-198, March.
    16. Wenyan Sun & Kedong Yin & Zhe Liu, 2021. "Tax Incentives, R&D Manipulation, and Corporate Innovation Performance: Evidence from Listed Companies in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-16, October.
    17. Walrave, Bob & Gilsing, Victor A., 2023. "Game of skill or game of luck? Distant search in response to performance feedback," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    18. Jian Liang & Ameeta Jain & Hao Wu, 2021. "Does Corporate Social Responsibility Vary by Real Estate Asset Types? Evidence from Real Estate Investment Trusts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-18, November.
    19. Michael Shayne Gary & Miles M. Yang & Philip W. Yetton & John D. Sterman, 2017. "Stretch Goals and the Distribution of Organizational Performance," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 28(3), pages 395-410, June.
    20. Zhiyi Qiu & Bingyi Liu & Ye Yang, 2023. "Like Performance, Perfect Match: Role of Past Performance in Venture Capital Syndication," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.
    21. Deb, Palash & David, Parthiban & O'Brien, Jonathan P. & Duru, Augustine, 2019. "Attainment discrepancy and investment: Effects on firm performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 186-196.
    22. Dikova, Desislava & Witteloostuijn, Arjen van, 2005. "Managerial satisfaction with subsidiary performance; the influence of the parent MNE's capabilities and the subsidiary's environment," Research Report 05G07, University of Groningen, Research Institute SOM (Systems, Organisations and Management).
    23. Kamel Mellahi & Adrian Wilkinson, 2010. "A Study of the Association between Level of Slack Reduction Following Downsizing and Innovation Output," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(3), pages 483-508, May.
    24. Kyuho Jin & Joowon Lee & Sung Min Hong, 2021. "The Dark Side of Managing for the Long Run: Examining When Family Firms Create Value," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-20, March.

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