How Do Mutual Dependence and Power Imbalance Condition the Effects of Technological Similarity on Post-Acquisition Innovation Performance Over Time?

British Journal of Management, Forthcoming

25 Pages Posted: 10 Nov 2021 Last revised: 5 Dec 2022

See all articles by Jie Wu

Jie Wu

Chair Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship; Area Editor, Technovation; Associate Editor, Asian Business & Management

Luman Yu

Hong Kong Polytechnic University - Faculty of Business

Zaheer Khan

University of Aberdeen

Date Written: November 10, 2021

Abstract

This study investigates how mutual dependence and power imbalance, which have been differentiated by the recent studies adopting the theoretical lens of resourcedependencetheory (RDT)as two distinct forms of interdependence, change the effect of technological similarity between the acquiring firm and target firm on post-acquisition innovation across times. The analysis of panel data on merger and acquisitions (M&As)undertaken by the US firms reveals that in the short-run mutual dependence strengthens the effect of technological similarity on post-acquisition innovation, whereas power imbalance weakens it. However, the effect of mutual dependence persists over time, while that of power imbalance declines over time. These findings extend the RDTto the context of technology acquisition and innovation and offer important implications for research and practice.

Keywords: Resource dependence, mutual dependence, power imbalance, acquisitions, technological similarity, innovation performance, M&As

Suggested Citation

Wu, Jie and Yu, Luman and Khan, Zaheer, How Do Mutual Dependence and Power Imbalance Condition the Effects of Technological Similarity on Post-Acquisition Innovation Performance Over Time? (November 10, 2021). British Journal of Management, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3960765 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3960765

Jie Wu (Contact Author)

Chair Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship ( email )

United Kingdom

Area Editor, Technovation ( email )

Associate Editor, Asian Business & Management ( email )

Luman Yu

Hong Kong Polytechnic University - Faculty of Business ( email )

Zaheer Khan

University of Aberdeen ( email )

Dunbar Street
Aberdeen, Scotland AB24 3QY
United Kingdom

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