Essays on innovation strategy, determinants and performance

Abstract

Using firm-level innovation survey data, this research examines several important facets of innovation, including innovation strategy, innovation in services, innovation networks, and public innovation support. This dissertation consists of four essays which intend to fill a number of conceptual and empirical gaps in the innovation literature. Each essay constitutes a separate chapter. Essay 1 (Chapter 3) applies the exploration vs. exploitation construct to investigate how innovation strategy can influence firm performance. Essay 2 (Chapter 4) focuses on how knowledge interaction with manufacturing clients shapes knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) firmsa?? own innovation behavior. Essay 3 (Chapter 5) contributes to the literature of innovation geography by examining how the spatial pattern of innovation networks influences firm innovation performance. Essay 4 (Chapter 6) focuses on how the effectiveness of public innovation support is contingent upon organizational characteristics of the firm.