Title: Risk, proactivity and uncertainties as determinants of the decision to imitate or to innovate

Authors: Ana Perez-Luno, Ramon Valle-Cabrera, Johan Wiklund

Addresses: The University Pablo de Olavide, CR Utrera Km, 1. 41013 Sevilla, Spain. ' The University Pablo de Olavide, CR Utrera Km, 1. 41013 Sevilla, Spain. ' The Jonkoping International Business School, SE-511 11 Jonkoping, Sweden

Abstract: This paper empirically tests the impact of uncertainties, proactivity and risk taking on the decision to innovate or to imitate and on an objective and a subjective measure of the company|s performance. Based on a survey of 399 companies, and using the company|s size and age as control variables, our empirical results support the view that proactivity is the most important determinant of the decision of whether to innovate or imitate. Also, we find that the company|s performance is not conditioned by the decision of innovating or imitating, but is rather determined by the company|s size, proactivity and risk taking.

Keywords: innovation; imitation; risk taking; environmental uncertainty; proactivity; organisational performance; company size.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTIP.2007.016305

International Journal of Technology Intelligence and Planning, 2007 Vol.3 No.4, pp.343 - 354

Published online: 16 Dec 2007 *

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