Why do firms imitate each other?

• 成果类型: Review
• 署名作者: Lieberman, MB; Asaba, S
• 署名单位: University of California System; University of California Los Angeles; Gakushuin University
• 刊物名称: ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0363-7425
• 发表日期: 2006
• 页码: 366-385
• 关键词: FOREIGN DIRECT-INVESTMENT; multimarket contact; UNITED-STATES; INTERORGANIZATIONAL IMITATION; OLIGOPOLISTIC REACTION; alliance formation; Herd behavior; red queen; COMPETITION; environment

摘要

Scholars from diverse disciplines have proposed numerous theories of business imitation. We organize these theories into two broad categories: (1) information-based theories. where firms follow others that are perceived as having superior information, and (2) rivalry-based theories, where firms imitate others to maintain competitive parity or limit rivalry. We describe conditions under which each type of imitation is most likely and offer guidance on identifying imitation in practice. Amplification effects and other performance implications of imitation are also addressed.