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Balancing act between research and application: how research orientation and networks affect scholars’ academic and commercial output

Author

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  • Claudia Werker

    (Delft University of Technology
    RWTH Aachen University)

  • Christian Hopp

    (RWTH Aachen University)

Abstract

Scholars’ balancing act between research and application leads to trade-offs between commercial and research output. Yet what some scholars may consider as poles apart might lead to super-additive outcomes for others. Based on a survey carried out at three leading European universities of technology we investigate the influence of scholars’ research orientation and networks on their output productivity. Our results point to a very specific group of ambidextrous scholars that is comparatively small. The scholars in this group are able to successfully balance research and application. In contrast, all scholars focusing on either pure basic or pure applied research face a trade-off between publications and innovations. In general, our findings suggest that the output productivity of all scholars is the higher the better their research orientation fits with their network activities. In particular, ambidextrous scholars rely on effectively accessing and utilizing their network to increase commercial and research output.

Suggested Citation

  • Claudia Werker & Christian Hopp, 2020. "Balancing act between research and application: how research orientation and networks affect scholars’ academic and commercial output," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 90(8), pages 1171-1197, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jbecon:v:90:y:2020:i:8:d:10.1007_s11573-020-00979-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s11573-020-00979-x
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    Cited by:

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    2. Mario Fernandes & Andreas Walter, 2023. "The times they are a-changin’: profiling newly tenured business economics professors in Germany over the past thirty years," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 93(5), pages 929-971, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Academia; Output; Research orientation; Networks; Ambidexterity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy
    • J4 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets

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