Innovation and competitive advantage - cassiman and veugelers 2006

22 important questions on Innovation and competitive advantage - cassiman and veugelers 2006

What are the key conclusions of Cassiman & Veugelers (2006) on complementarity in innovation strategy?

  • Main finding: Internal R&D and external knowledge acquisition are complementary → integrating both strengthens innovation performance.
  • Context-specific: The strength of complementarity depends on how much the firm relies on basic R&D (links to universities/research centers).
  • Implication: Innovation success requires not only combining MAKE & BUY, but also creating the right organizational context.
  • Managerial takeaway: Careful integration of internal & external knowledge can yield sustainable competitive advantage.
  • Future research: Identify more firm characteristics that influence complementarity in innovation strategies.
  • What factors positively influence a firm's innovation activities according to the results?

    The analysis suggests that:
    • Firm size positively correlates with innovation activity engagement.
    • Higher innovation intensity leads to better performance in new product sales.
    • Export intensity enhances innovation productivity due to competitive pressure.

    What contextual variables affect the complementarity of internal and external innovation activities?

    Findings indicate that:
    • In-house basic R&D capability is crucial for exploiting complementarity.
    • Strategic protection effectiveness impacts decisions for internal R&D involvement.
    • Resource limitations might drive firms to prioritize internal R&D despite constraints.
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    What does the bivariate probit model reveal about innovation strategies?

    This model helps distinguish the relationship between two binary outcomes, specifically:
    • The decisions to "MAKE" (internal R&D) and "BUY" (external sourcing).
    • It identifies where complementarity is most significant, particularly in joint “Make & Buy” strategies.
    • Corrects for endogeneity to yield accurate estimates on innovation strategies.

    What conclusion can be drawn regarding the relationship between internal and external innovation activities?

    The study supports that:
    • There is a clear complementarity between internal and external innovation activities.
    • Innovation management should tightly integrate these diverse knowledge sources.
    • The reliance on basic R&D significantly influences the strength of this complementarity, emphasizing context-specific decision-making.

    What traditional focus has empirical research on organizational design decisions had regarding complementarity?

    The primary emphasis was on the existence of complementarity. However, a broader approach is needed that combines two key frameworks:
    1. Productivity Approach
    2. Adoption Approach
    This analysis also includes contextual variables from the firm’s strategy.

    How does the productivity test improve in the analysis of complementarity?

    Analysis of contextual variables enriches the productivity test by:
    1. Providing deeper insights into the innovation process
    2. Identifying key strategic elements that may influence the complementarity
    3. Enhancing the understanding of how internal and external activities interact

    What are the two main types of innovation activities discussed in the research?

    The research identifies key innovation activities as:
    1. Internal Research and Development (R&D): Conducting R&D in-house
    2. External Knowledge Acquisition: Gaining knowledge from outsiders via various methods
    These activities are seen as complementary in the innovation process.

    What suggests that internal R&D and external knowledge acquisition are complementary activities?

    The simultaneous execution of both activities indicates complementarity through:
    1. An increase in marginal return when both are utilized
    2. Support from the concept of absorptive capacity developed by Cohen and Levinthal
    3. Reduction of the “not invented here” syndrome within firms

    What evidence supports the notion that successful innovative firms develop both internal and external networks?

    Evidence includes findings from various studies:
    1. Freeman (1991): Effective communication networks enhance innovation
    2. Rigby and Zook (2002): External knowledge flows help maintain competitive advantage
    3. Arora and Gambardella: Internal know-how is vital for harnessing external knowledge effectively

    What methodology is proposed to test for the existence of complementarity in innovation activities?

    A two-step procedure integrates insights from both:
    1. Productivity (Direct) Approach: Measures performance via combinations of innovation activities
    2. Adoption (Indirect) Approach: Tests for correlation between innovation actions
    This provides a comprehensive view of innovation strategies.

    What variables were identified as important in determining innovation performance?

    Several variables significantly impact innovation performance:
    1. Firm size: Smaller firms may excel due to reduced bureaucracy
    2. Innovation intensity: Higher spending in innovation correlates with better performance
    3. Export intensity: More export-oriented firms may have greater innovation productivity

    How do strategic protection mechanisms influence internal and external knowledge sourcing?

    Findings suggest that:
    1. Effective strategic protection like secrecy boosts internal R&D reliance
    2. Companies with legal protections may prefer external acquisitions
    3. These mechanisms shape the choice between developing knowledge internally or externally

    What characteristics may affect a firm's decision to engage in internal R&D?

    Different characteristics influencing firms include:
    1. Basic R&D Capability: Essential for leveraging complementarity
    2. Resource Limitations: Firms may turn to internal projects amidst constraints
    3. Competitor Information: The necessity to keep up can drive firms towards external sourcing

    What role does the bivariate probit model play in analyzing innovation strategies?

    This model aids in investigating decisions to “MAKE” and “BUY” by:
    1. Segmenting data into relevant subsets
    2. Correcting for possible endogeneity in innovation strategy
    3. Determining levels of complementarity in specific strategies like Make & Buy

    What does the study conclude about the relationship between internal and external innovation activities?

    The research findings indicate:
    1. There is a complementarity between these activities, supporting innovative success
    2. The reliance on basic R&D significantly affects the strength of this complementarity
    3. Organizations must manage both types of knowledge to optimize returns on innovation activities

    What are the implications of this research for future studies?

    Future studies should focus on:
    1. Identifying firm characteristics affecting innovation complementarity
    2. Investigating productivity drivers in innovation management
    3. Exploring both theoretical and empirical dimensions of innovation processes

    How do small firms compare to larger firms in terms of innovation performance?

    Small firms may achieve better innovation performance due to:
    1. Reduced bureaucracy, allowing for quicker decision-making
    2. Less complexity in management structures
    3. Higher adaptability to innovative practices compared to larger firms

    What is the significance of relying on basic R&D in a firm's strategy?

    The reliance on basic R&D is important because it:
    1. Enhances the firm's absorptive capacity
    2. Encourages effective integration of external knowledge
    3. Strengthens the overall effectiveness of both internal and external innovation activities

    What should organizations manage to secure a sustainable competitive advantage?

    To ensure sustainable competitive advantage, organizations must:
    1. Integrate internal and external knowledge thoroughly
    2. Foster an environment that supports complementarity in innovation efforts
    3. Adjust their innovation strategies based on contextual variables in their operational landscape

    What are the two distinct decisions firms can make regarding technology input into innovation?

    Firms can choose from two main decisions:
    1. Make: Conduct R&D internally and develop proprietary technology
    2. Buy: Acquire technology from external sources to enhance innovation
    These choices are critical in shaping a firm's innovation strategy.

    What main approach does the paper take regarding innovation activities and complementarity?

    The methodology in this paper combines a “productivity” and an “adoption” approach. It includes:
    • Analysis of contextual variables affecting complementarity.
    • Improvement of productivity tests for complementarity.
    • Examination of internal R&D and external knowledge acquisition as complementary activities.
    • Insights on the firm's strategic environment's influence on complementarity.

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