Performance Effects of External Search Strategies in European Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
基于28个欧洲国家的新调查数据，研究了七种外部搜索策略对不同规模和行业的中小企业创新绩效的影响，发现客户作为外部知识源有持续正向作用，但某些策略可能无益。
There is little evidence regarding the performance impact of open innovation on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), especially across different firm-size categories and sectors. Using new survey data from 28 European countries, we specify ordered logit and generalized proportional odds models to explore how seven individual external search strategies (knowledge sources) affect SME innovation performance across different size categories and sectors. While we find some consistently positive effects, in particular from using customers as an external knowledge source, we also find that some search strategies may not be beneficial. These findings suggest managerial and policy implications.