Abstract: A growing number of studies have argued that firms pursue ambidexterity to achieve competitive advantage. However, empirical evidence on the performance implication of ambidextrous innovation remains unclear. In this study, we propose a horizontal S-shaped relationship between ambidextrous innovation and firm performance. Specifically, at high and low levels of ambidexterity, the pursuit of exploratory and exploitative innovation is negatively associated with firm performance, while at moderate levels of ambidexterity, greater exploratory and exploitative innovation is accompanied by higher performance. Further, the S-shaped relationship is moderated by the involvement of firms’ controlling owners and professional managers. Performance attributable to ambidextrous innovation decreases with the dominance of controlling owners, yet increases with the involvement of professional managers. We test our theory with Taiwanese listed firms from 1997-2013.

Abstract: We study breakthrough inventions (primordial discoveries with potential for commercially-viable innovations) as a function of ownership structure—i.e., whether a firm is private or state owned (SOMNCs). Departing from the notion that SOMNCs (which are less disciplined with their cash-flows) have routines permitting slow and steady investments in riskier outcomes, are not necessarily more or less creative than private firms. But their innate capabilities trigger experimentations with intermediary technologies (i.e., new to the firm and to the industry), which in turn make breakthrough inventions more likely. We consider three moderators affect this process: the severity of business cycles and rivalry increase it, while pro-market economic-institutions decrease it. Empirical support arises from analyses of 904 private and SOMNC firms. We discuss implications for theory and practice.

Abstract: Leveraging innovations build either on existing technological competences while developing new customer competences, or the other way around. Being at the nexus of exploiting and exploring competences, these innovations need a context that stimulates both. The organizational context literature has explained the contextual mechanisms leading to alignment and adaptability, but falls short in explaining long-term innovation. Using case studies of six leveraging innovations, which we observe from ideation to implementation over an eight-year period, we theorize about contextual mechanisms that invoke and nurture these forms of innovation. The contextual factors which facilitate this form of innovation are successively an “acceleration”-environment to de-link, a “bend-the-rules”-mentality to re-link, a “tolerance for further learning”-context to de-link again and a “stimulate growth”-vision to re-link technology and market competences.

Abstract: We study how the development of markets for technologies (MFTs) impacts a firm’s performance as a function of its strategy and resources. Consistent with predictions derived from the Resource-Based Theory (RBT) we find that the development of MFTs has a stronger positive effect on the performance of companies endowed with a large technological portfolio. Instead, companies with a high degree of technological specialization with regard to their operating product markets and those pursuing a product diversification strategy benefit the least from the development of MFTs. More in general, our results highlight the importance of external market conditions in the determination of the value of a company’s resources.