Journal article

Publication year: 2013

Pages: 1606-1636

Journal: Journal of Management

Volume number: 39

Issue number: 6

ISSN: 0149-2063

eISSN: 1557-1211

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206313484516

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Abstract: 
Research has frequently argued that firms need to pursue exploratory and exploitative innovation strategies to be viable in an environment of technological change and intensified competition. However, it remains unclear whether exploratory and exploitative innovations are equally successful in different institutional environments. This meta-analysis synthesizes previous empirical findings to reveal under which institutional conditions firms benefit most from exploratory or exploitative innovation. We distinguish between institutional conditions that affect the success derived from exploratory and exploitative innovations through (a) the availability of resources and (b) attitudes toward innovation and the willingness of stakeholders to allocate resources to both innovation types. Our results show that national culture has a strong impact on the success of exploratory innovations, whereas only uncertainty avoidance influences the benefits derived from exploitative innovations. Socioeconomic conditions are equally important for the success of both innovation types. Our findings are of high practical relevance as due to increasing globalization more and more firms operate internationally and managers have choices regarding the location of their exploratory and exploitative innovation activities.

Harvard Citation style: Mueller, V., Rosenbusch, N. and Bausch, A. (2013) Success Patterns of Exploratory and Exploitative Innovation: A Meta-Analysis of the Influence of Institutional Factors, Journal of Management, 39(6), pp. 1606-1636. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206313484516

APA Citation style: Mueller, V., Rosenbusch, N., & Bausch, A. (2013). Success Patterns of Exploratory and Exploitative Innovation: A Meta-Analysis of the Influence of Institutional Factors. Journal of Management. 39(6), 1606-1636. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206313484516