M.T.H. Meeus

Do Networks Matter for Innovation? The usefulness of the economic network approach in analysing innovation

Economic network theory emphasises the importance of external resource mobilisation. In this paper, the relations between the mobilisation and use of internal and external resources in innovation processes, and the innovative performance of firms, are explored empirically, using an adapted version of Hakanssons (1987) economic network model. The main research question was: to what extent do network variables contribute to the innovative performance of firms? To answer this question, we assessed the explanatory power of economic network theory within the empirical study of innovation. Firms were found to engage in various configurations of internal and external resource bases, enabling them to innovate with better results. The relations in the estimated models are strongly influenced by moderating variables such as sector, and type and level of innovations produced. Our main conclusion is that models that include both internal and external resources explain the innovative performance better than models in which only internal resources are used.

Firm behaviour and innovative performance: An empirical exploration of the selection-adaptation debate

Innovation is a complex trade-off between routinisation and change, between reliability and accountability of firms and timely adaptation. This innovators dilemma confronts innovation theory with the question, how to align routinisation with innovation induced organisational change and consistent performance. Obviously it is a complex issue. Dominant innovation theory neglects this subject due to its pro-innovation bias, while evolutionary organisation and innovation theory give opposite perspectives on this problem. The adaptation perspective considers pro-active behaviour as the best condition for innovative performance, whereas the selection perspective advances inert firm behaviour as the best alternative to achieve successful innovations. Our research question focuses on the explanatory value of either the selection or the adaptation perspective for the innovative performance of industrial firms. Our empirical findings confirm the adaptation perspective and reject the selection perspective. Comparatively, firm behaviour involving the highest risks and uncertainties—e.g., high environmental dynamics and high levels of adaptive activity—contributes most significant to the explanation of innovative performance. Inert, risk averse behaviour, conversely, does not improve or even impedes innovative performance compared with other types of firm behaviour.

R&D cooperation in a transaction cost perspective

This paper investigates R&Dcooperation between buyers and suppliers, drawing bothon transaction cost theory and resource-based theoryof the firm. Results of logistic regression analyses,using a unique firm-level database containing 689manufacturing firms located in a Dutch region, supportassumptions of transaction cost theory. Frequentknowledge transfer and moderate and high levels ofasset specificity increase probabilities of R&Dcooperation. In particular, Williamsons assumptionsconcerning the moderating influences of uncertainty onbilateral governance are confirmed. Extending theoriginal transaction cost model with indicatorsderived from resource based theory of the firmincreases the performance of the model.

Sectoral patterns of interactive learning : an empirical exploration of a case in a Dutch region

This paper pursues the development of a theoretical framework that explains interactive learning between innovator firms and external actors in both the knowledge infrastructure and the production chain. The research question is: What kinds of factors explain the interactive learning of innovator firms with distinct external actors? Our theoretical framework extends the resource-based perspective, which is predominant in network theory, with both an activity-based and a structural account of interactive learning. We contend basically that higher technological dynamics induce more complex innovative activities. But, more complex innovative activities increase the probability of internal resource deficits/shortages in the innovator firms. The lower the alignment of the innovative activities with the quality of the internal resource base, the higher the resource deficits/shortages and the more likely the search for complementary resources externally, which increases the likeliness of external relationships. In order to test the generality of our theoretical claims we analyse our models in four sectors with distinct technological dynamics as distinguished by Pavitt. For each sector we explore five models of the level of interactive learning of innovator firms with: (1) the public knowledge infrastructure (difficult to access, demands high internal competencies to utilize scientific knowledge), (2) the production chain (easy to access), (3) their users, (4) their suppliers, (5) their competitors. These analyses allow for a comparison between interactive learning with different external actors and give deeper insights into the differentiated interaction patterns involving innovation. Our findings show that patterns of interactive learning between sectors differ. Some are more resource based and others are more affected by the complexity of innovative activities. Particularly the patterns of interactive learning between, on the one hand, firms and the knowledge infrastructure, and on the other hand of firms with the production chain show important differences.

R&D COLLABORATION IN THE LIFE SCIENCES: FINDING PARTNERS AND THE ROLE OF RESOURCE-BASED INDUCEMENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

This paper addresses interorganisational collaboration by science-based firms active in the Dutch life sciences. More specifically, we focus on two aspects (1) processes of finding partners; and (2) resource-based inducements and opportunities guiding these processes. Overall, there appears to be an evolution from untargeted to targeted search as the firms become more established within the technological field. Unestablished firms largely depend on accepting invitations for collaboration offered to them by partners while more established firms are able to successfully initiate partnerships themselves. Considering more than one potential partner, e.g. actual partner selection, does not occur regularly, especially not in the case of partnerships initiated by the partner instead of the focal organisation. The use of a standardised list of preconditions to be considered in partner selection could be relevant here.

Assessing transition trajectories towards a sustainable energy system: A case study on the Dutch transition to climate-neutral transport fuel chains

Summary This paper proposes a method for the ex ante evaluation of technological trajectories. As a case we study the Dutch transport energy system and its transition to climate neutrality. Two technological trajectories are proposed: (i) a sequence of transition steps based on radical infrastructural change, and (ii) a sequence of steps oriented towards incremental innovation on the side of the vehicle. The system is approached from a multi-actor perspective, taking into account the multiplicity of views and interests of actors involved. Based on interviews a quick scan is made in terms of their Willingness to Participate (WTP). We find that on long term goals, a positive WTP and a high degree of consent are the case. For the short term the opposite is found. Management should therefore be directed at facilitating short term innovations: in the case of an incremental strategy, by stimulating market development; and in case of a radical strategy, by providing finance and institutional legitimation.

Do Network Structures Follow Innovation Strategy? Chandler Revisited with Learning as an Intermediary Variable

In the literature on learning and innovation, a substantial amount of theorizing on the combination of exploration and exploitation has been conducted (March, 1991; Nooteboom, 2001; Volberda & Lewin, 2002). Two observations can be derived from this literature. On the one hand, the conceptual and theoretical development outpaced the empirical research so far (e.g., the volume of Dierkes et al. (2001) on organizational learning). There is an old, but profound theoretical literature on innovation and structure (Hage, 1980, 1998; Alter & Hage, 1993; Damanpour & Gopalakrishnan, 1998). Until recently these literatures on learning and structuring have been rather detached. Only some researchers (Boisot, 1998; Nooteboom, 2001; Volberda, 1998; Volberda & Lewin, 2002) aimed at synthesis, nevertheless the empirical part remains underdeveloped. On the other hand, learning is considered too often as an exogenous variable. In the organizational learning literature, there is a tendency to consider learning as a process without a context, which implies that important related aspects remain underanalyzed. In this chapter, we want to combine learning with the Chandlerian (Chandler, 1962) notion of structure follows strategy, in which structure is not conceptualized as internal organizational structure but as external network structure.