Reciprocity and R&D search: Applying the behavioral theory of the firm to a communitarian context

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: O'Brien, Jonathan P.; David, Parthiban
• 署名单位: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; American University
• 刊物名称: STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0143-2095
• DOI: 10.1002/smj.2105
• 发表日期: 2014
• 页码: 550-565
• 关键词: CORPORATE GOVERNANCE; Ownership structure; JAPAN; behavioral theory of the firm; varieties of capitalism

摘要

We propose that the behavioral theory of the firm perspective on R&D search requires modification when applied to communitarian cultures such as Japan because reciprocity and embeddedness can influence the search decision. When performance exceeds aspirations, communitarian-oriented firms are more inclined to use their privileged position to help their less fortunate stakeholders by engaging in additional R&D search that should yield greater payoffs for these stakeholders in the future. Our results indicate that while Japanese firms engage in problemistic search in a manner similar to what has been found in other contexts, they respond differently when performance exceeds expectations. We find that as performance rises above aspirations, communitarian-oriented firms raise R&D search to a greater extent than do firms that lack a communitarian orientation. Copyright (c) 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.