Prescriptions for Network Strategy: Does Evidence of Network Effects in Cross-Section Support Them?

28 Pages Posted: 12 May 2012

See all articles by Joel A. C. Baum

Joel A. C. Baum

University of Toronto - Joseph L. Rotman School of Management

Robin Cowan

Maastricht Economic Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT)

Nicolas Jonard

University of Angers - Centre de Recherche en Epistémologie Appliquée (CREA)

Date Written: May 10, 2012

Abstract

Although intuitively appealing (and common), drawing network strategy implications from empirical evidence of network performance effects in pooled cross-section is not necessarily warranted. This is because network positions can influence both the mean and variance of firm performance. Strategic prescriptions are warranted if empirically observed network effects reflect increases in mean firm performance. If network effects reflect increases in firm performance variance, however, such prescriptions are warranted only if the increase in the odds of achieving high performance is suffcient to compensate for the concomitant increase in the odds of realizing poor performance. Our simulation study, designed to examine network performance effects in both pooled cross-section and within-firm over time across a wide range of conditions, counsels caution in drawing implications for network strategies. We discuss the implications of our findings for research on network effects, and more broadly for drawing strategic inferences from studies of firm performance in pooled cross-section.

Keywords: strategic alliances, interfirm networks, network effects, network strategy, computer simulation

Suggested Citation

Baum, Joel A.C. and Cowan, Robin and Jonard, Nicolas, Prescriptions for Network Strategy: Does Evidence of Network Effects in Cross-Section Support Them? (May 10, 2012). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2056302 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2056302

Joel A.C. Baum (Contact Author)

University of Toronto - Joseph L. Rotman School of Management ( email )

University of Toronto
105 St. George Street
Toronto, ON, M5S 3E6
Canada
416-978-4914 (Phone)
416-978-4629 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/~baum

Robin Cowan

Maastricht Economic Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT) ( email )

P.O. Box 616
Maastricht, 6200 MD
Netherlands

Nicolas Jonard

University of Angers - Centre de Recherche en Epistémologie Appliquée (CREA) ( email )

Ecole Polytechnique
1, rue Descartes
75005 Paris
France

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