New product introductions below aspirations, slack and R&D alliances: A behavioral perspective

Abstract

We develop hypotheses based on behavioral theory that explain how high technology firms' new product introduction (NPI) performance below aspiration levels impact the number of R&D alliances, and how slack moderates this relationship. Using panel data of U.S. biopharmaceutical firms, we find that as firms' NPI performance below historical aspiration levels increases the number of R&D alliances they form increases and slack intensifies this relationship. We contribute to alliance research by providing theory and empirical evidence that increases in the distance of NPI below aspirations serve as a motivation for increases in R&D alliances, and empirically to behavioral theory by revealing that NPI goals act similarly to financial performance goals in their impact on firms' actions and slack intensifies this relationship.

How Competitive Action Mediates the Resource Slack–Performance Relationship: A Meta‐Analytic Approach

“…While we expect general support for a positive relationship in line with prior meta‐analyses, the continuing presentation of mixed empirical evidence (e.g., Haleblian et al, ; Kim et al, ; Lecuona and Reitzig, ; McClelland et al, ; Tang et al, ; Tyler and Caner, ) suggests that our models linking slack to performance are limited. We address this issue by detailing the role competitive behaviours play in transforming and directing the utilization of slack for performance gains.…”

Resource congestion in alliance networks: How a firm's partners’ partners influence the benefits of collaboration

“…Finally, a third assumption relates to the window over which an alliance portfolio is defined. Consistent with the approach taken in a number of recent alliance studies (e.g., Bos, Faems, & Noseleit, 2017;Cui, Yang, & Vertinsky, 2018;Tyler & Caner, 2016;Van de Vrande, 2013;Yang, Lin, & Peng, 2011), I use a 5-year window to recognize that alliances continue beyond just the year in which they were established, but that they are at the same time finite in their lifespan.…”

Innovation management research methods: embracing rigor and diversity

“…Finally, as Anderson et al (2004) suggested, it may prove interesting to study innovation as an independent rather than a dependent variable. Among studies adopting this approach, Tyler and Caner (2016) examined how the success or failure of new product introduction affects the likelihood of new R&D alliance formation. Based on the above, it seems reasonable to argue that innovation is a process, even when only outcomes are measured.…”