Solving Environmental Problems: Knowledge and Coordination in Collaborative Search

Olsen, Anders Ording, Sofka, Wolfgang and Grimpe, Christoph (2017) Solving Environmental Problems: Knowledge and Coordination in Collaborative Search LONG RANGE PLANNING, 50 (6). pp. 726-740.

Text Olsen Sofka Grimpe LRP 2016 Solving Environmental Problems Knowledge and Coordination in Collaborative Search.pdf - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (440kB)

Abstract

Recent innovation and strategy research emphasizes the importance of firm’s search for external knowledge to improve innovation performance. We focus on such search strategies within the domain of sustainable innovation in which problems are inherently complex and the relevant knowledge is widely dispersed. Hence, firms need to collaborate. We shed new light on collaborative search strategies led by firms in general and for solving environmental problems in particular. Both topics are largely absent in the extant open innovation literature. Using data from the European Seventh Framework Program for Research and Technological Development (FP7), our results indicate that the problem-solving potential of a search strategy increases with the diversity of existing knowledge of the partners in a consortium and with the experience of the partners involved. Moreover, we identify a substantial negative effect from involving partners in a search consortium who collaborate for the first time. Our findings have implications for both the literature on firms’ search and the creation of sustainable innovation.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	35 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services, 3507 Strategy, Management and Organisational Behaviour
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	24 Sep 2018 09:53
Last Modified:	21 Jun 2024 08:51
DOI:	10.1016/j.lrp.2016.05.003
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3026391
Disclaimer:	The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate.