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Mind the gap: Balancing alliance network and technology portfolios during periods of technological uncertainty

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  • Pieters, Michiel
  • Gilsing, Victor
  • Vanhaverbeke, Wim

Abstract

While clique-embeddedness is generally considered to enhance firm performance, there are also reasons to expect that under conditions of technological turbulence clique-membership is less beneficial or might even become a liability. To address this, we study the innovative performance of clique members during periods of both technological change and technological stability. We find support for the idea that companies’ ability to adapt their alliance network (i.e. forming ties beyond the scope of the clique) and their ability to adapt their technology portfolios (i.e. access to novel technological knowledge) positively influences their innovative performance during technologically turbulent periods.

Suggested Citation

  • Pieters, Michiel & Gilsing, Victor & Vanhaverbeke, Wim, 2009. "Mind the gap: Balancing alliance network and technology portfolios during periods of technological uncertainty," MPRA Paper 26491, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2010.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:26491
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    cliques; alliance networks; technological turbulence; technological performance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L14 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Transactional Relationships; Contracts and Reputation
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • L24 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Contracting Out; Joint Ventures

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