Organizing for Innovation: Managing the Coordination-Autonomy Dilemma in Technology Acquisitions

Academy of Management Journal, Forthcoming

47 Pages Posted: 9 Jun 2005

See all articles by Phanish Puranam

Phanish Puranam

INSEAD

Harbir Singh

University of Pennsylvania - Management Department

Maurizio Zollo

Imperial College Business School

Abstract

The management of technology acquisitions - acquisitions of small technology based firms by large established firms - poses a dilemma in terms of how to organize for innovation. Acquirers must integrate acquired firms in order to exploit their capabilities and technologies in a coordinated manner; at the same time, they must preserve organizational autonomy for acquired firms in order to avoid disrupting their capacity for continued exploration. In this study, we suggest that the coordination-autonomy dilemma can be better managed by recognizing that the effect of a structural form on innovation outcomes is contingent on the stage of development of the innovation trajectory of the acquired firm. Specifically, we show that structural integration lowers the hazard of new product introductions for acquired firms that have not launched any products prior to acquisition and for all acquired firms in the immediate aftermath of the acquisition, but these adverse effects disappear as the innovation trajectory evolves beyond these stages. We discuss implications for our understanding of post merger integration, and the organizational challenges of balancing exploration and exploitation in high velocity environments.

Keywords: Coordination, Acquisitions, Organization Design

JEL Classification: D23, L22, L23

Suggested Citation

Puranam, Phanish and Singh, Harbir and Zollo, Maurizio, Organizing for Innovation: Managing the Coordination-Autonomy Dilemma in Technology Acquisitions. Academy of Management Journal, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=740464

Phanish Puranam (Contact Author)

INSEAD ( email )

1 Ayer Rajah Avenue
Singapore, 138676
Singapore

HOME PAGE: http://www.insead.edu/facultyresearch/faculty/profiles/ppuranam/

Harbir Singh

University of Pennsylvania - Management Department ( email )

The Wharton School
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6370
United States
215-898 6752. (Phone)
215-898 0401 (Fax)

Maurizio Zollo

Imperial College Business School ( email )

South Kensington Campus
Exhibition Road
London SW7 2AZ, SW7 2AZ
United Kingdom
+447923241443 (Phone)

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