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Horizon problem and firm innovation: The influence of CEO career horizon, exploitation and exploration on breakthrough innovations

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  • Cho, Sam Yul
  • Kim, Sang Kyun

Abstract

Building on labor market evaluations and legacy conservation motivation perspectives, we propose a mechanism to explain the relationship between CEO career horizons and breakthrough innovations. Using 10-year panel data from 681 U.S. firms, we find that firms that have a CEO with a short career horizon tend to produce fewer breakthrough innovations. We also find that the relationship between CEO career horizon and breakthrough innovation is partially mediated by R&D spending, and also moderated by organizational learning behavior (exploration vs. exploitation). This study highlights how a CEO’s motivation to protect success in the short term affects the firm’s innovativeness.

Suggested Citation

  • Cho, Sam Yul & Kim, Sang Kyun, 2017. "Horizon problem and firm innovation: The influence of CEO career horizon, exploitation and exploration on breakthrough innovations," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(10), pages 1801-1809.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:respol:v:46:y:2017:i:10:p:1801-1809
    DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2017.08.007
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    CEO career horizon; Breakthrough innovation; Risk aversion; Legacy conservation; Labor market evaluation; Organizational learning behavior;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M12 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Personnel Management; Executives; Executive Compensation
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • D23 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Organizational Behavior; Transaction Costs; Property Rights
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty

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