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The Multiple Dimensions of The Interfirm Network: The Critical Sources of Product Innovation

This dissertation examines the impacts of interfirm variables on both invention and commercialization activities, following Greves (2003) suggestion that innovation research will be enriched if more studies integrate invention and commercialization activities to understand the entire innovation development process. Utilizing two established theoretical perspectivesorganizational learning and institutional theorysix sets of hypotheses are developed containing the following interfirm variables: 1) direct and indirect ties, 2) strength of direct ties, 3) structural holes, 4) prominence of direct partners, 5) exploration and exploitation partners, and 6) horizontal and vertical networks. The dissertation also predicts that these interfirm variables would contribute to either invention or commercialization activities.
Examining 262 publicly traded biopharmaceutical firms from 1986 to 2003, the study demonstrates that the interfirm variables significantly influence the invention and commercialization outcomes. While some interfirm variables positively influence the number of patents of a focal firm, they could have a negative impact upon the number of marketed drug applications and revenue. A managerial implication from the findings is that a focal firm may want to clarify its objectives before engaging in any interfirm collaboration by examining the multiple dimensions of its interfirm network and to identify its posture toward alliances. Due to the complexity and length of invention and commercialization activities, future research is warranted to investigate further the impacts of these interfirm predictors on important, but relatively ignored, product innovation outcomes (i.e., the number of new projects and licensing, marketing, and sales fees).

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:LSU/oai:etd.lsu.edu:etd-05252006-164039
Date26 May 2006
CreatorsSrivardhana, Thongchai
ContributorsChadwick Higgins, Robert Justis, Timothy Chandler, Andreas Schwab, James Moore
PublisherLSU
Source SetsLouisiana State University
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typetext
Formatapplication/pdf
Sourcehttp://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-05252006-164039/
Rightsunrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached herein a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to LSU or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below and in appropriate University policies, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report.

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