BE Bonnie Beerkens

Bio: BE Bonnie Beerkens is an academic researcher from Eindhoven University of Technology. The author has contributed to research in topics: Alliance & Capital (economics). The author has an hindex of 6, co-authored 13 publications receiving 288 citations.

The Role of Alliance Network Redundancy in the Creation of Core and Non-core Technologies

Abstract: This paper studies the effect of a focal firm, and its partners' local alliance actions, on the creation of technological innovations by the former. More specifically, we study how two types of redundancy in a focal firm's ego network affect its ability to create new technologies in its technology core areas (exploitation) and/or non-core areas (exploration). We analyse this empirically in three different industry settings: chemicals, motor vehicles, and pharmaceuticals. One of our key findings is that individual firms can indeed boost both types of innovative output by shaping the degree of redundancy in their local alliance network, but that the way in which this should be done differs between the creation of core and non-core technologies. Next, we find that it is very useful to unpack the rather abstract notion of redundancy into more specific types of redundancy in ego networks. Overall, these findings reflect an action-oriented view on the role of individual firms in collaborative networks, which may complement the dominant view in the alliance literature emphasizing the role of the overall network structure and firms' network position within it.

Technological capability building through networking strategies within high-tech industries.

Abstract: Learning through networks has been considered as an important research topic for several years now. Technological learning is more and more based on a combination of internal and external learning and firms need to develop both technological and social capital for that purpose. This paper analyses the relationship between both types of capital and their impact on the technological performance of companies in high-tech industries. We claim and find empirical evidence for decreasing marginal returns on social capital. Technological capital and social capital mutually reinforce each other's effect on the rate of innovation for companies with small patent and alliance portfolios. However, when the patent portfolio and network of alliances are extensive, companies risk to over-invest since optimal levels of social capital become smaller at higher levels of technological capital and the marginal benefits of investing in technological capital decreases the higher the levels of social capital. Finally, we find empirical evidence that companies that explore novel and pioneering technologies have higher levels of innovation performance in subsequent years than companies that solely invest in incremental innovations.

Explorative and exploitative learning strategies in technology-based alliance networks

Abstract: Although the literature converges regarding the reasons why and how networks of technology alliances are formed, there is still lack of agreement on what constitutes an optimal network structure, o...

External acquisition of technology : exploration and exploitation in international innovation networks

Abstract: 19 Introduction 20 Theoretical background and hypotheses 21 Technological and social capital 21 Exploring new technologies 25 Empirical setting 27 Definition and characteristics 27 Data, variables and modeling 29 Data 29 Variable definitions and operationalization 32 Dependent variable 32 Independent variables 32 Control variables 36 Model specification and econometric issues 37 Results 38 Discussion and conclusions 45 Chapter 3 EXPLORATIVE AND EXPLOITATIVE LEARNING STRATEGIES IN TECHNOLOGY-BASED ALLIANCE NETWORKS 49 Abstract 49 Introduction 50 Theoretical background and hypotheses 52 Strategic alliances and their role in exploitative and explorative learning 52 Direct ties 53 Indirect ties 55 Network structure of social capital 57 Data, variables and methods 59 Data 59 Variables 61 Dependent variables 61 Independent variables 62 Model estimation 68 Results 70 Conclusion 8249 Introduction 50 Theoretical background and hypotheses 52 Strategic alliances and their role in exploitative and explorative learning 52 Direct ties 53 Indirect ties 55 Network structure of social capital 57 Data, variables and methods 59 Data 59 Variables 61 Dependent variables 61 Independent variables 62 Model estimation 68 Results 70 Conclusion 82

Alliance advantage : the art of creating value through partnering

Abstract: Partnerships between companies receive a great deal of attention from top managers and researchers at the time of their formation. This attention results largely from the common perception that the initial structuring of partnerships and establishment of common goals determines partnership outcomes and success. In Alliance Advantage, Doz and Hamel shift the focus away from deal making to the internal processes within the partnership and the unfolding interactions among partners that play an important and relatively unexplored role in shaping outcomes. Focusing on the underlying reasons why companies enter alliances and the processes by which they continually learn from their interactions and re-evaluate common--and individual--goals, the authors paint a sophisticated picture of alliance dynamics over time. The authors challenge organizations to define their objectives for alliance formulation and consider whether their own corporate culture provides an "alliance ready" atmosphere.

Network Embeddedness and the Exploration of Novel Technologies: Technological Distance, Betweenness Centrality and Density

Abstract: In this paper we analyze the innovative performance of alliance networks as a function of the technological distance between partners, a firm's network position (centrality) and total network density. We study how these three elements of an alliance network, apart and in combination, affect the 'twin tasks' in exploration, namely novelty creation on the one hand and its efficient absorption on the other hand. For an empirical test, we study technology-based alliance networks in the pharmaceutical, chemical and automotive industry.