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Article
Beating Competitors to International Markets: The Value of Geographically Balanced Networks for Innovation
Strategic Management Journal
  • Pankaj C. Patel
  • Stephanie A. Fernhaber, Butler University
  • Patricia P. McDougall-Covin
  • Robert P. van der Have
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2013
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/smj.2114
Abstract

Being able to launch new products internationally is critical for technology-based ventures to recoup the high costs of R&D and to exploit their innovations fully. Despite the widely recognized importance of networks within the innovation development process, there appear to be contrasting viewpoints as to whether local or foreign network partners contribute more in the race to internationalize. Drawing on the theoretical underpinnings of comparative advantage, we propose and empirically confirm that ventures pursuing a balance of local and foreign network connections for the development of an innovation are able to bring the product more rapidly into the international marketplace. Furthermore, both innovation complexity and industry clockspeed heighten the importance of geographic network balance to the speed of product internationalization.

Rights

‘This is a peer reviewed version of the following article:

Patel, P. C., Fernhaber, S. A., McDougall-Covin, P. P. and van der Have, R. P. (2014), Beating competitors to international markets: The value of geographically balanced networks for innovation. Strat. Mgmt. J., 35: 691–711.,

which has been published in final form at: 10.1002/smj.2114. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving'.

Citation Information
Pankaj C. Patel, Stephanie A. Fernhaber, Patricia P. McDougall-Covin and Robert P. van der Have. "Beating Competitors to International Markets: The Value of Geographically Balanced Networks for Innovation" Strategic Management Journal Vol. 35 Iss. 5 (2013) p. 691 - 711
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/stephanie_fernhaber/15/