The effects of the functional and geographical breadth of collaborations on radical innovation performance : the moderating role of firm size
Izotova, Anna (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament d'Empresa)
Bolívar Ramos, María Teresa (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament d'Empresa)

Date:	2024
Abstract:	Purpose: Due to the constantly increasing competitiveness along with the complexity of knowledge, firms perceive collaboration as a key strategy that preserves firms' radical innovation performance. In this context, this paper aims to examine how firms' partners' diversity in open innovation activities influences the development of radical innovations, critical for social development. In particular, this study analyzes how the functional and geographical breadth of the firm's collaboration portfolio affects its radical innovation performance. Furthermore, it also explores the role of firm size as a moderator in the relationships proposed. Design/methodology/approach: This research employs panel data analysis, using a sample of 4,677 Spanish firms, with data sourced from the PITEC database. Findings: The results of this study show that there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between the functional and the geographical breadth of collaborations and the firms' radical innovation performance. Moreover, this study finds partial support for the moderating role of firm size, in the sense that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large firms vary in their optimal number of diversity of partners. Originality/value: This research provides a better understanding on how partners' functional and geographical diversity, along with organizational characteristics such as firm size, affect how firms benefit from collaboration for innovation. This study shows that both SMEs and large firms experience diminishing returns when their collaboration networks become overly diverse in pursuit of radical innovation, due to increased costs. However, in SMEs, the turning point occurs at a later stage, consistent with the idea that small firms need broader functional networks to access complementary and novel resources they usually lack.
Grants:	Agencia Estatal de Investigación ECO2017-87885-P Agencia Estatal de Investigación ECO2017-86054-C3-1-R Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2020-114460GB-C31 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2022-141777NB-I00
Note:	Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UAB
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Radical innovation ; Open innovation ; Collaboration portfolio ; Functional breadth of collaborations ; Geographical scope ; Firm size
Published in:	Journal of business & industrial marketing, Vol. 39 Núm. 13 (16 2024) , p. 216-232, ISSN 2052-1189

DOI: 10.1108/JBIM-01-2024-0011

17 p, 604.2 KB

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