Hélène Delerue

Innovation Portfolio Management as a Subset of Dynamic Capabilities: Measurement and Impact on Innovative Performance

Innovation portfolio management has been touted as a new dynamic capability following the evolution of team- and project-based organizational forms. In this article, we conceptualize innovative dynamic capabilities as a multidimensional construct that comprises distinct but related aspects in managing innovation. We test our model, which links this capability to innovative performance by using survey data from a sample of 923 firms. We find empirical support for our conceptualization and its impact on firm innovative performance.

Internationalization of biotechnology start-ups: Geographic location and mimetic behaviour

The objective of this article is to understand the extent to which location in a geographic cluster can explain international alliance formation. Geographic clusters are characterized by several dimensions: agglomeration economies, institutional forces and a manager’s mental models create the environment within the cluster. Therefore, to develop the research propositions, which were tested on a sample of US biotechnology start-ups, the study specifically analysed cluster size and firm competitive behaviour within the cluster to explain the propensity of a start-up to engage in new international alliances. It also examined the potential moderating effect of cluster evolution. Results show that merely being located in a geographic cluster in itself does not increase the probability of forming a new international alliance. Within clusters, internationalization of start-ups through alliance formation results mainly from mimetic behaviour.

A cross‐cultural analysis of intellectual asset protection in SMEs: The effect of environmental scanning

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the effect of national culture on the capacity of small and medium-sized biotechnology enterprises to protect their intellectual assets by analysing the mediator role of environmental scanning behaviour. The extent to which environmental scanning behaviour helps firms protect their intellectual assets is investigated, and the effects of national cultural values on environmental scanning behaviour are analysed. Design/methodology/approach – The hypotheses are tested with survey data from 123 biotechnology SMEs located in fourteen countries. Findings – Environmental scanning appears to be an important step in the intellectual property strategy, as it enhances the firms capacity to protect its intellectual assets. Nevertheless, our results show that firms located in cultures with high uncertainty avoidance, high power distance and low individualism do more scanning, whereas the capacity to protect intellectual assets is perceived as more important in firms located in cultures with low uncertainty avoidance, low power distance and high individualism. Research limitations/implications – Certain limitations should be noted. For instance, the research is based on cross-sectional data, which provides limited insight into the temporal aspects of dynamic environments. Practical implications – This study has important implications for practitioners. It demonstrates that, in international working relationships, cultural values have a direct effect on environmental scanning behaviour, and hence an indirect effect on intellectual property (IP) protection capability. Given the strategic importance of scanning and IP for innovative firms, the results could help managers make strategic decisions, specifically in R&D internationalization through decentralization or partnership. Originality/value – Although few studies have empirically analysed the role of environmental scanning in a particular domain, such as intellectual property strategic management, or adopted a comparative cross-cultural design to do so, we investigate the role of environmental scanning in intellectual property strategy from a cross-cultural perspective.

Marketing and technology strategies for innovative performance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine organizational project management (OPM) as an integrative mechanism to mediate marketing and technology strategies for innovative performance. In addition, the moderating effects of firm size and turbulence on the relationships between marketing strategy, technology strategy, OPM, and innovative performance are examined.Design/methodology/approach – The authors used empirical data derived from a survey of 5,000 firms worldwide in fast‐paced RD and intervenes in the relationship between both strategies and innovative performance. The results also show some moderating effects of turbulence.Practical implications – Marketing and technology strategies impact innovative performance, but part of...

Unilateral commitment in alliances: an optional behaviour

Purpose – The coordination difficulties and risks inherent to business conduct are magnified in alliance relationships, posing a greater challenge for partners. The purpose of this paper is to propose real option perspective to examine how relational risk perceptions shape commitment behaviour in biotechnology alliance relationships.Design/methodology/approach – The hypotheses are tested with survey data on 344 alliance relationships of European Biotechnology small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs).Findings – This paper suggests that commitment can be seen as a real option, which reduces the degree of asymmetry of information concerning a partners behaviour. The findings stress that endogenous uncertainty makes unilateral commitment more attractive, but the conclusion does not show that it enhance perceived relationship effectiveness for the party that unilaterally commits in a unique time period.Research limitations/implications – Nevertheless, within this paper the real options logic to alliance commi...

Modes de contrôle et partage des droits de la propriété intellectuelle : Le cas des alliances de R&D

Résumé Le brevet conjoint est le résultat d’un effort conjoint dans le contexte d’un projet de recherche spécifique. Mais il est aussi l’acceptation par l’entreprise de donner à son partenaire les droits d’usage et de transfert de certains actifs intellectuels. Le partage des droits de la propriété intellectuelle accroit la liberté d’action de l’autre partie au-delà du processus éphémère de la collaboration. Pourquoi certaines relations d’alliance conduisent-elles à la création d’un brevet conjoint alors que d’autres non ? Dans quelle mesure les caractéristiques de la relation influencent-elles le choix pour un brevet conjoint ? Cette recherche analyse les effets des modes de contrôle sur le choix opéré par l’entreprise d’accepter de breveter conjointement la propriété intellectuelle issue du processus collaboratif. L’étude empirique porte sur 52 alliances contractuelles de R&D de petites et moyennes entreprises canadiennes de biotechnologie. Les résultats montrent l’importance du contrôle social dans sa capacité à expliquer l’émergence des brevets conjoints.

Les accords de confidentialité entre entreprises. Signe de vulnérabilité et source d’innovation

Pour beaucoup d’entreprises aujourd’hui, l’un des actifs les plus precieux est la propriete intellectuelle. L’accord de non-divulgation, egalement appele accord de confidentialite, permet aux entreprises de partager leur propriete intellectuelle avec d’autres. Quels effets ont ces accords sur les activites de l’entreprise ? Cette recherche qualitative, portant sur des PME quebecoises de biotechnologie, montre que ces accords, de par leurs caracteristiques, accroissent la vulnerabilite des entreprises, mais paradoxalement favorisent l’innovation.